Greece, Spain Face New Debt Pressures

 　　Greece and Spain faced new pressure Tuesday from the European debt crisis.

　　The European Union bluntly told the Athens government it would not receive its next $11 billion installment¹ from last year's bailout unless its fractious political leaders sign a written statement committing to new austerity measures to cut the country's debt. Greece needs the money to avoid a default next month, but conservative leader Antonis Samaras says his verbal consent to the unpopular austerity plan should be sufficient and has refused to sign a written pledge.

　　A key EU financial leader, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, told new Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos that without the written commitment, the release of the funds "of course could not take place."

　　Meanwhile, the prospect² of a conservative government in Spain led by Prime Minister-elect Mariano Rajoy failed to quell³ mounting financial market pressure on the Madrid government. Spain was forced to pay its highest interest rates in 14 years on government debt. Its rate on three-month securities topped 5 percent, more than double that from a month ago and higher than both Greece and Portugal have had to pay.

　　As the long reach of the debt crisis continues, European leaders are debating the role of the European Central Bank, and to what extent it should buy the bonds of the 17 nations that use the common euro currency. France wants the bank to be allowed to lend an unlimited⁴ amount to the eurozone's bailout fund. But Germany, the continent's leading economic power, fears that would fuel inflation and discourage debt-ridden countries from correcting their financial woes⁵.

1 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

2 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

3 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

4 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

5 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。