碰类母矮降贸多大号 高级商务英语阅读 V.背景知识 1.New membership The European Union threw open its doors to new members ranging from Estonia to Cyprus at a summit late 2002,but talk of ending the continent's east-west divide was overshadowed by last-minute haggling over money. The 10 newcomers were scheduled to join the 15 existing members in 2004 after wrapping up more than four years of membership talks during a meeting of leaders in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.European Commission President Romano Prodi said enlargement"must not be compromised by last-minute inflexibility." Poland led the candidates in last-gasp bid to secure bigger aid handouts from the EU,while existing members like Austria,Portugal and Italy tried to squeeze more concessions from the newcomers.The summit will also have to answer Turkey's demands for a date to start its own negotiations to join the EU. Leaders are expected to schedule membership talks with the Turks in mid-2005,if Ankara can show it meets EU standards of human rights,democracy and economic stability. Turkey says the date is too late and insists its recent reforms-including abolition of the death penalty-should have been enough for the EU to set a date in 2003. Failure to appease the Turks could set the stage for a diplomatic showdown between Western Europe and the Muslim nation of 66 million people.Turkey neighbors Iraq and is viewed by the United States as a vital ally in the war against terrorism. The United States strongly backs Turkey's bid.President Bush lobbied French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday on the Turkey issue."My administration is working hard on Turkey's behalf,"Bush said Tuesday.Britain is also "championing the cause of Turkey,"British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in London. Related to the EU's relations with Turkey is the future of Cyprus,one of the 10 countries due to join in 2004. The EU is hoping the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and the breakaway Turkish-backed north will agree on a U.N.reunification plan before the island joins.If not,it's committed to taking in only the Greek Cypriot south,something that would further alienate 第2页共11页第 2 页 共 11 页 高级商务英语阅读 V. 背景知识 1. New membership The European Union threw open its doors to new members ranging from Estonia to Cyprus at a summit late 2002, but talk of ending the continent's east-west divide was overshadowed by last-minute haggling over money. The 10 newcomers were scheduled to join the 15 existing members in 2004 after wrapping up more than four years of membership talks during a meeting of leaders in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. European Commission President Romano Prodi said enlargement "must not be compromised by last-minute inflexibility." Poland led the candidates in last-gasp bid to secure bigger aid handouts from the EU, while existing members like Austria, Portugal and Italy tried to squeeze more concessions from the newcomers. The summit will also have to answer Turkey's demands for a date to start its own negotiations to join the EU. Leaders are expected to schedule membership talks with the Turks in mid-2005, if Ankara can show it meets EU standards of human rights, democracy and economic stability. Turkey says the date is too late and insists its recent reforms - including abolition of the death penalty - should have been enough for the EU to set a date in 2003. Failure to appease the Turks could set the stage for a diplomatic showdown between Western Europe and the Muslim nation of 66 million people. Turkey neighbors Iraq and is viewed by the United States as a vital ally in the war against terrorism. The United States strongly backs Turkey's bid. President Bush lobbied French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday on the Turkey issue. "My administration is working hard on Turkey's behalf," Bush said Tuesday. Britain is also "championing the cause of Turkey," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in London. Related to the EU’s relations with Turkey is the future of Cyprus, one of the 10 countries due to join in 2004. The EU is hoping the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and the breakaway Turkish-backed north will agree on a U.N. reunification plan before the island joins. If not, it's committed to taking in only the Greek Cypriot south, something that would further alienate