链典4矮降贸多大 高级商务英语阅读 Supplementary Reading for Chapter 8 EU Enlargement (1) Continuing enlargement and continuing integration There is much work to be done during the Netherlands Presidency and beyond to integrate the new Europe successfully,Dutch prime minister and new EU Council President,Jan Peter Balkenende,told the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week.He summed UP the key challenges as:"Internally,by working for consolidation of the enlarged Union,for sustainable economic growth,for security and for a sound financial foundation for the years ahead;externally, by looking ahead,together with our partners elsewhere in the world,and by operating more decisively,as a Union,on the world stage." Presenting the Netherlands Presidency's priorities for the next six months to the Parliament, Balkenende said:"The ten countries which joined on 1 May 2004 need to be able to feel completely at ease within the Union as quickly as possible.The Presidency has a particular responsibility in this.We shall do our level best to ensure that the new Member States can fully participate in all of the Union's proceedings as soon as possible". "At the same time",he went on,'we want to pave the way thoroughly for future enlargements. Membership negotiations with Bulgaria were completed a short while ago.Those with Romania have reached a very advanced stage.Membership negotiations with Croatia are to begin next year. In December,too,the European Council is to consider whether Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria for human rights and democracy.If so,membership negotiations will be opened with Turkey as well." And on the question of whether to open talks with Turkey,he insisted:"The decision must be arrived at honestly,under the ground rules to which we previously,in 2002,firmly committed ourselves.That means strict application of the criteria laid down,but without inventing any new criteria.We must not allow ourselves to be guided by fear,e.g.of Islam.Raising barriers to any 第1页共9页高级商务英语阅读 Supplementary Reading for Chapter 8 EU Enlargement (1) Continuing enlargement and continuing integration There is much work to be done during the Netherlands Presidency and beyond to integrate the new Europe successfully, Dutch prime minister and new EU Council President, Jan Peter Balkenende, told the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week. He summed UP the key challenges as: “Internally, by working for consolidation of the enlarged Union, for sustainable economic growth, for security and for a sound financial foundation for the years ahead; externally, by looking ahead, together with our partners elsewhere in the world, and by operating more decisively, as a Union, on the world stage.” Presenting the Netherlands Presidency's priorities for the next six months to the Parliament, Balkenende said: “The ten countries which joined on 1 May 2004 need to be able to feel completely at ease within the Union as quickly as possible. The Presidency has a particular responsibility in this. We shall do our level best to ensure that the new Member States can fully participate in all of the Union's proceedings as soon as possible”. “At the same time”, he went on, “we want to pave the way thoroughly for future enlargements. Membership negotiations with Bulgaria were completed a short while ago. Those with Romania have reached a very advanced stage. Membership negotiations with Croatia are to begin next year. In December, too, the European Council is to consider whether Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria for human rights and democracy. If so, membership negotiations will be opened with Turkey as well.” And on the question of whether to open talks with Turkey, he insisted: “The decision must be arrived at honestly, under the ground rules to which we previously, in 2002, firmly committed ourselves. That means strict application of the criteria laid down, but without inventing any new criteria. We must not allow ourselves to be guided by fear, e.g. of Islam. Raising barriers to any 第 1 页 共 9 页