Английский разговорный язык. Практическое пособие по развитию устной речи

briefing – брифинг ( краткая пресс-конференция с участием пресс-секретаря официального органа )

centre – центр; иметь центром

consequences – последствия

conventional – обычный

desire – желание; желать

diversion – отклонение, отвлечение

divert – отклонить(ся)

engage – вступать в отношения

familiar

– знакомый

fellow – член колледжа, университета

halt – останавливать(ся)

hardware – техника

highlight – выделять, освещать, подчеркивать

inevitable – неизбежный

militarily – имеющий отношение к военному делу

missile – ракета

on board – на борту

resist – противостоять, сопротивляться

retaliation

– возмездие, ответный удар

security – безопасность

sensitive – чувствительный, восприимчивый

sensor – сенсор, приемник

strain – напряжение; вызывать напряжение

threaten – угрожать

tighten – ужесточать

transshipment – транспортировка с перепогрузкой товара

underline – подчеркнуть

use – использование

via

– через, посредством

militarily sensitive – могущий быть использованным в военных целях

controlled items – контролируемые образцы

United Arab Emirates – Объединенные Арабские Эмираты

unspecified action – здесь : соответствующие меры

free trade talks – переговоры по свободной торговле

key members – ключевые члены

weapons of mass destruction – оружие массового уничтожения

nuclear weapons – ядерное оружие

overriding concern

– преобладающее беспокойство

container terminals – портовые терминалы для приемки лихтеров-контейнеровозов

ports operator – портовый оператор

Europe Must Embrace its Neighbours

The enlargement of the European Union has lost momentum. Bulgaria and Romania will enter the EU in January, but there is then likely to be a long gap before any other country joins. The EU has used the accession process as its main method to promote economic and political reform in its neighbourhood. But now it needs new methods.

Germany, which takes over the EU presidency next month, has promised that a new «European neighbourhood policy» will be a priority. Such a policy is urgently needed. A key challenge for the EU next year will be to build stronger ties with neighbours that are not on the road to membership.

The EU cannot afford to be indifferent to the arc of instability that runs from Belarus to North Africa, passing through Ukraine, Moldova, the western Balkans, the Caucasus and the Middle East. Unless the EU takes responsibility for steering its neighbourhood towards prosperity and good governance, it risks paying a heavy price. Political instability, religious extremism, ethnic conflict, organised crime and illegal immigration could all spill over from the neighbourhood to the union and in some cases already are.

The EU\'s current neighbourhood policy, in place since 2004, is proving inadequate. It involves the union negotiating an «action plan» with each neighbour, promising trade, aid, political contacts and participation in EU programmes – though not membership – in return for a series of specified reforms. Action plans with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Moldova, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine have already been agreed.

Several such plans have been modestly successful. Ukraine has adapted some laws and standards to be closer to those of the EU and will gain an easier visa regime. Morocco and Moldova have improved border controls. Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia have set up forums on governance, democracy and human rights. But the ENP has failed to transform neighbours in the way the accession process transformed much of eastern Europe.

The carrots held out by the EU are not juicy enough to motivate political elites to undertake many of the painful reforms required.

Although the EU cannot feasibly promise membership to neighbours, it must offer them a more attractive package. Germany plans to integrate neighbours with EU energy markets and transport networks. The Commission has approved a scheme to offer Ukraine and other neighbours «deep free trade». That would mean scrapping not only tariffs but also some non-tariff barriers to trade and investment.