EU Presses Hungary to Make Further Spending Cuts
英语课
The European Union is heightening its pressure on Hungary for reforms, saying that it has failed to effectively control its budget deficit 1 and that its new constitution may be unlawful.
EU economy minister Olli Rehn said Wednesday that the Budapest government has failed to permanently 2 keep its deficit spending below the EU-mandated level of 3 percent of the country's economic output.
"It is on an unsustainable path and will reach about 3 percent next year and thus again breach 3 the reference value of the treaty. This is why we have concluded that Hungary has not taken effective action in response to the council recommendations," said Rehn.
Rehn said the EU could withhold 4 development funds for Hungary if it does not curtail 5 its spending.
Meanwhile, the EU also said it is nearing completion of a review to determine whether Hungary's new constitution violates EU standards by curtailing 6 the independence of the country's judges, the central bank and its data protection agency. Some critics say the constitutional changes pushed through by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's parliamentary majority in December could return the one-time Soviet-bloc country to an authoritarian 7 state.
Hungary is seeking a bailout of up to $25 billion from the EU and International Monetary 8 Union, but talks were suspended over the assistance after the central bank provisions were approved.
Meanwhile, even Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, said it is not immune from the effects of the continent's slowing economy and the effects of the two-year governmental debt crisis. Germany said Wednesday its economy shrunk by a quarter of a percentage point in the last three months of 2011.
n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差
- The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
- We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。
adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地
- The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
- The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破
- We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
- He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。
v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡
- It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
- I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。
vt.截短，缩短；削减
- The government hopes to curtail public spending.政府希望缩减公共事业开支。
- The minister had to curtail his visit.部长不得不缩短访问日期。
v.截断，缩短( curtail的现在分词 )
- They will be curtailing the discussions at two thirty. 他们将把讨论缩短至两点半。 来自互联网
- Individually, banks are acting rationally by retaining their capital and curtailing lending. 此外，银行们正在合理地保留其资本和减少贷款。 来自互联网
n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者
- Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
- The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。
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