EU Leaders Focus on Jobs, Economic Growth

 　　European Union leaders granted Serbia candidate status at a two-day summit that ends Friday focusing on jobs and the economy in the region.

　　The Brussels summit has been a relatively¹ low-key event compared to last year's crisis meetings aimed at stemming the eurozone's financial problems. The European Union's 27 leaders approved Serbia's candidacy to join the block. Serbia has made a number of democratic reforms demanded by the EU and captured war-crime suspects.

　　EU president, Herman Van Rumpoy, hailed the candidacy as a "remarkable² achievement" and linked it to improved relations with Kosovo.

　　"I hope it will encourage Serbia to undertake further efforts in order to meet the political and economic criteria³ for the EU membership," he said. "It is also my hope that Belgrade will continue to support regional cooperation and neighborly relations in the western Balkans."

　　Much of this Brussels summit has focused on getting the EU's struggling economies back on track. The block has delayed by a week another installment⁴ of bailout funds for one of its frailest⁵ members - Greece - but members praised new austerity measures enacted⁶ by Athens.

　　Arriving at the summit on Friday, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said the block was moving from crisis management to focusing on longer-term issues.

　　"Finally Europe, and state and heads of governments, will be able to talk Europe and Europe's future and not only about crisis," Grybauskaite said.

　　The leaders face big challenges on the economic front. The EU's statistical⁷ service reports that unemployment in the 17-nation eurozone has risen to its highest level since the introduction of the euro more than a decade ago. Inflation is also on the rise. Protests against austerity measures erupted in several European countries ahead of this summit.

　　On Friday, EU leaders focused on foreign policy issues, including the uprising in Syria.

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

4 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。

5 frailest   

脆弱的( frail的最高级 )； 易损的； 易碎的

参考例句：

6 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 statistical   

adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。