1、From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report in Special English.美国之音慢速英语经济报道。European Union countries have struggled to find common ground as they worked out a budget agreement in Belgium this month. European leaders finally had success last week. They agreed on the European Unions multia
2、nnual financial framework, or MMF, for the period from 2014 to 2020.本月，欧盟国家在比利时苦于达成共识来制定预算协议，欧洲领导人上周最终达成共识。他们就欧盟2014到2020年多年财政框架(MMF)达成一致。The MMF sets the EUs total spending at $1.3 trillion. That represents one percent of the total income of EU members. Members agreed to reduce total spending by ov
3、er three percent for the period. This is the first time spending cuts have been made.MMF规定欧盟的总开支为1.3万亿美元，这相当于欧盟会员国总收入的1%。成员国同意在这时期将总开支减少3%以上，这是欧盟制订的首个开支削减方案。European Council President Herman Van Rompuy spoke after the agreement was announced. He said the compromise budget may not be perfect. But he
4、said it should help all EU members.欧洲理事会常任主席赫尔曼范龙佩在协议宣布后发表讲话，他说这个妥协预算也许不完美，但这对每个成员国都有利。Our support to the most vulnerable people remains intact, so does our external action funding even despite the crisis. This budget will allow Europe to keep engaging on vital global issues such as climate change,
5、nuclear safety and development aid.“尽管危机继续，我们会一如既往地支持最弱势的群体，也会继续提供外部行动资金。这项预算将使欧洲参与全球重大事务，诸如气候变化、核安全和发展援助。”German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the long-term spending plan. She said the agreement makes policy more predictable and enables members to act in the interest of Europe.德国总理安吉拉默克尔赞扬了这项长期开
6、支计划，她说协议使得政策更富可预见性，使得成员国为了欧洲的利益而做出行动。Some EU leaders have been calling for greater spending controls in their home countries. They wanted the EU to show that it is willing to cut costs.一些欧洲领导人一直呼吁对本国的开支加强控制，他们希望欧盟做出愿意削减开支的意愿。British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the agreement. Before the two
7、-day meeting, he had threatened to veto the budget if there were no steps toward cutting spending.英国首相戴维卡梅隆对此协议表示欢迎，就在为期两天的会议开始之前，他就威胁道，如果不采取削减开支的措施，他将否决这项预算。So I think the British public can be proud that we have cut the seven-year credit card limit for the European Union for the first time ever. A
8、nd as a result the EUs seven-year budget will cost less than one percent of Europes gross national income. That is also for the first time ever.“我们首次削减了欧盟七年的信用卡授信额度，我想这样英国公众就可以很自豪了。这样欧盟的七年预算只不过占欧洲总国民收入的1%不到，这也是历史上的首次。”The European parliament still must approve the measure. But some parliament member
9、s say it fails to deal with problems like the sharp wealth differences between rich and poor. Guy Verhofstadt from Belgium is a member of the European parliament. He does not think the measure will pass.尽管欧洲议会必须批准这项措施，一些议员表示，这项协议未能解决诸如贫富严重分化的问题。来自比利时的居伊伏思达是欧洲议会成员，他认为这样措施无法通过。I dont think that we sha
10、ll have a majority in the parliament to approve this proposal.we are creating a big deficit of more than 50 billion euros and that is not acceptable.“我觉得议会上不会有多数人支持这项提议，我们的举行赤字已超过500亿欧元，这是无法接受的。”If approved, the measure will affect 28 European Union countries. The EU says Croatia is expected to join the group in July.如果提议通过，这项措施将影响到28个欧盟国家，欧盟称克罗地亚有望于7月加入进来。