Germany's Merkel Calls for United Europe

 　　German Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel is calling for a stronger political union in Europe to overcome the bloc’s debt crisis. She called the crisis the continent’s “toughest hour since World War II.” And, in Italy, Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti was hard at work choosing members of his Cabinet.

　　Addressing thousands of delegates of her conservative party, Chancellor Angela Merkel made clear that Germany will have to make more sacrifices to deal with financial events in Europe.

　　Today, she said, Europe is in one of its toughest hours, maybe the toughest hour since World War II. It must be clear to us that we must not be discouraged by that. In 2008, she said, we managed to overcome the financial crisis with the motto that Germany would come out stronger from this crisis than we entered it. Now we must succeed in getting Europe out of this crisis stronger than when it entered it.

　　Merkel added that the European Union’s structure must be developed further. That, she said, means creating a Europe that ensures that the euro has a future.

　　The German chancellor said the euro is far more than just a currency. It is the symbol of European unification and it has become the symbol for half a century of peace, freedom and prosperity.

　　The leader of Europe’s biggest economy stressed that if the euro fails, so will Europe.

　　In Italy, Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti began talks Monday to create a new government of non-political experts. The effort follows the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi and the approval by parliament of emergency austerity and reform measures.

　　But political analyst² James Walston, at Rome’s American University, says the fact that Berlusconi has stepped down does not mean he has abandoned politics.

　　"Berlusconi made his position very clear when he left on Sunday. He sent a video message to Italy saying that he is not finished, that he was - first of all he said he was very upset in personal terms because he has been, because of the celebrations when he left - but then in terms of substance he said he would double his efforts to continue his idea of renewing Italy," said Walston. "So at the moment, he is certainly not retired³, he is not the retiring type."

　　Monti, a 68-year-old economics professor, has pledged to act "with a sense of urgency" to identify ministers in the new government and has said he hopes to secure a strong team. He was meeting various political parties throughout the day.

　　After he draws up what is expected to be a small Cabinet of technocrats⁴ and lays out its priorities, he will need to ensure that he has enough support in parliament to govern. Monti’s new government will be tasked with implementing⁵ economic reforms aimed at reviving a stagnant⁶ economy and decreasing public debt.

　　German Chancellor Merkel has welcomed signs of an end to the weeks of uncertainty⁷ in Italy. Monti could visit either France or Germany to meet Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy within a week of a new government being in place.

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 technocrats   

n.技术专家，专家政治论者( technocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Few business barons remained. They were replaced by "technocrats," who became the heads of corporations. 企业巨头所剩无几，大多已被“技术专家”所代替，这些人成了公司的领导。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• However, bankers called the technocrats' bluff and proceeded to lend with gusto. 但是，银行家们称技术专家官员不过在虚张声势，并且还会乐观的继续借贷业务。 来自互联网

5 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

6 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

7 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。