您现在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Normal Speed News  
   
 





 
EU economy worse than predicted
[ 2009-05-06 09:59 ]

Download

Europe has received more bad economic news, with the 27-member European Union announcing the business downturn would be far worse this year than its earlier predictions.

The European Union's economy is expected to shrink by 4 percent this year - more than twice what was estimated in January. And that is only part of the grim news that was delivered by the European Commission - the bloc's executive arm.

EU economy worse than predicted

Unemployment increasing

Unemployment in the 27-member EU is expected to reach 11.5 percent by 2010 - the highest level since World War II. And as governments invest heavily in economic stimulus plans, their deficits are expected to soar to about 7.5 percent of gross domestic product - more than twice the limit allowed under EU rules.

But EU economic commissioner Joaquin Almunia tried to offer a bright side to the gloomy news he delivered to reporters in Brussels.

"Some positive signals have appeared in the last weeks, including the evolution of the financial markets, improvement in business expectations and some real indicators, such as export data in Asia, pointing, all of them, to a stabilization of the economy in the second part of this year and a gradual recovering in 2010," Almunia said.

Situation likely to get worse

But the economic situation is likely to get worse in Europe before it gets better. The European Union predicted the German economy, Europe's largest, is likely to contract by 5.4 percent this year, a larger decline than the EU average. The Latvian economy is expected to be hit even harder, shrinking 13.1 percent in 2009, while Ireland's economy is expected to shrink by 9 percent.

The European Union predicts the bloc may begin to slowly recover next year, but only if the banking system and international trade pick up.

shrink: decrease in size, range, or extent(收缩,衰退)

bloc:a group of countries in special alliance(为某种共同目的而采取一致行动的政治组织,集团)

pick up:improve, turn around(好转,振作)

Related stories:

EU president calls US economic plans a 'road to hell'

Europe plays soccer to combat hunger

EU summit focuses on economic stimulus

(Source: VOA 英语点津编辑)

 
英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
相关文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本频道最新推荐
 
怎样说“吃素”?
调查:法国人花在吃饭睡觉上的时间最多
楼层建筑面积 floor space
看电影 学翻译技巧
战争博物馆
翻吧推荐
 
论坛热贴
 
如何翻译别和我来这一套
为什么叫蹦的
别乱扔垃圾。怎么译这个乱字呀?
橘子,橙子用英文怎么区分?
看Gossip Girl学英语