欧盟还值得保留吗，还是该解散了？：英语精读讲义

Do you think the European Union is worth it 短語搭配

你认为欧盟是有价值的吗

or should we end it?

还是我们应该解散它？

Many people feel a strong disconnect with the EU 短語搭配

许多人对欧盟感到强烈的隔阂

while others praise its achievements.

而另一些人则称赞它的成就。

Everything considered,

综合考虑，

is its existence good or bad for Europeans?

它的存在对欧洲人是好还是坏？

Since it looks like the UK is leaving the EU,

既然英国看起来正在脱离欧盟，

we'll mostly treat it as if it's no longer part of the club. 語法

我们很大程度上会把它当成已经不再是这个俱乐部的一员。

The European Union,

欧盟，

combining its 27 member countries,

结合其27个成员国，

has a population of about 450 million people,

拥有约4.5亿人口，

making it the third most populous sort of country in the world.

使其成为世界上人口第三多的类似国家实体。

It's the world's second largest economy by GDP

它是世界上按GDP计算的第二大经济体

and has the biggest single market in the world.

并拥有世界上最大的单一市场。

But originally,

但最初，

the creation of the European Union was all about one thing,

欧盟的建立完全是为了一个目的，

peace.

和平。

Europeans are really good at war.

欧洲人非常擅长战争。

So they were embroiled in bloody conflicts for basically all their history. 短語搭配

所以他们几乎在整个历史中都卷入了血腥冲突。

A century-long rivalry between Germany and France alone

仅德国和法国之间长达一个世纪的竞争

cost millions of lives and ran so deeply 語法

就夺去了数百万人的生命，并且结怨如此之深

that Germans invented their own word for it,

以至于德国人为其发明了一个专有词汇，

Erbfeindschaft. 文化背景

Erbfeindschaft。

After the Second World War,

第二次世界大战后，

Europeans decided they wanted lasting peace

欧洲人决定他们想要持久的和平

that was not based on a balance of military power. 文化背景

而不是建立在军事力量平衡基础上的和平。

Instead,

相反，

the economies, politics, and peoples of Europe

欧洲的经济、政治和人民

should become so closely interconnected

应该变得如此紧密相连

that war would become both impractical and unthinkable.

以至于战争变得既不切实际又不可想象。

The plan worked.

这个计划奏效了。

Between EU members,

在欧盟成员国之间，

we've had over 70 years of peace.

我们已经享有了70多年的和平。

Okay,

好吧，

peace is great and all, 語氣意圖

和平固然很好，

but what are the European Union's achievements and problems?

但欧盟的成就和问题究竟是什么？

Today,

今天，

EU citizens benefit from many individual freedoms.

欧盟公民受益于许多个人自由。

EU treaties and regulations

欧盟的条约和法规

ensure easy travel,

确保了出行的便利，

cheap telecommunications,

廉价的通信，

a great variety of goods and services,

种类繁多的商品和服务，

as well as very strong health and safety standards.

以及非常严格的健康和安全标准。

European institutions are not afraid to pick a fight 習語

欧洲机构并不害怕挑起争端

with companies such as Microsoft, Apple, or Facebook

与诸如Microsoft、Apple或Facebook等公司

about fair competition,

在公平竞争、

tax evasion,

逃税、

or data protection.

或数据保护等问题上。

Through the EU science programs,

通过欧盟的科学项目，

the European countries became a collaborative engine

欧洲国家成为了一个合作引擎

that serves as a hub of science 短語搭配

作为一个科学中心

in the wider world.

服务于更广阔的世界。

Unrestricted travel and the right to work anywhere

不受限制的旅行和在任何地方工作的权利

makes it easy to apply for funds

使申请资金变得容易

and set up international teams of experts 短語動詞

并能建立国际专家团队

with the best equipment.

享有最好的设备。

In turn, 表達脈絡

反过来，

the EU became the world leader

欧盟成为了世界领导者

in terms of its global share of science researchers 短語搭配

在其科学研究人员的全球份额方面

and produces more than 25% of the world's research output

并且产生了世界科研总产量的25%以上

with only 5% of its population.

而其人口仅占世界的5%。

But many citizens feel distrust towards the EU.

但许多公民对欧盟感到不信任。

Brussels seems far away

布鲁塞尔似乎很遥远

and untransparent,

且不透明，

technocratic,

充满技术官僚色彩，

and difficult to understand.

而且难以理解。

It doesn't help that the EU is terrible at outreach 表達脈絡

欧盟在公众沟通方面做得很糟糕，这也无济于事，

and explaining what it actually does.

无法解释它实际上做了什么。

This disconnect has also led to an ever-shrinking voter turnout over the decades. 用詞

这种脱节也导致了几十年来选民投票率不断萎缩。

More transparency and accountability

更多的透明度和问责制

are desperately needed

是迫切需要的

if the EU institutions want the trust of their citizens.

如果欧盟机构想要赢得公民的信任。

Currently,

目前，

the EU is still shaken by the refugee crisis of 2015. 文化背景

欧盟仍未从2015年的难民危机中缓过神来。

Some countries have accepted far greater numbers of asylum seekers than others, 講解

一些国家接受的寻求庇护者数量远多于其他国家，

while the border countries are overwhelmed

而边境国家则不堪重负

and feel left alone.

并感到孤立无援。

Other countries are shocked by the initially unregulated mass immigration

其他国家对最初不受管制的大规模移民感到震惊

and closed their borders,

并且关闭了边境，

effectively shutting down the largest route into Europe. 短語動詞

实际上切断了进入欧洲的最大通道。

The EU's wealth and freedom make it an attractive destination

欧盟的财富和自由使其成为一个具吸引力的目的地

and this is unlikely to change.

而这不太可能改变。

The population is split on how to react to that.

民众对如何应对这一问题存在分歧。

Some argue that Europe let in too many immigrants with a different culture 表達脈絡

一些人认为欧洲让太多文化不同的移民进入

without strictly demanding integration,

而没有严格要求他们融入，

while others argue that immigration is not the problem,

而另一些人则认为移民不是问题，

but that racism and discrimination of immigrants

而是种族主义和对移民的歧视

is preventing integration.

阻碍了融入。

To strike a balance between helping refugees, 短語搭配

在帮助难民、

turning illegal immigrants away, 短語動詞

拒收非法移民、

and successfully integrating the ones that stay 語法

以及成功让留下的人融入之间取得平衡

remains one of the most difficult and controversial challenges

仍然是最困难和最具争议的挑战之一

of the Union.

在欧盟内部。

Immigration aside, 表達脈絡

撇开移民不谈，

many more challenges lie in the future,

未来还有许多挑战，

like defense.

比如国防。

Traditionally,

传统上，

European countries have relied strongly 短語搭配

欧洲国家严重依赖

on the protection of the US through NATO. 文化背景

美国通过NATO提供的保护。

But in the current political climate,

但在当前的政治气候下，

Europe has to ask itself

欧洲必须问自己

if it really wants to depend on the United States for its safety.

它是否真的想为了自身的安全而依赖美国。

If combined today, 語法

如果在今天整合起来，

the militaries of EU members

欧盟成员国的军队

could form an effective defensive force

可以组建一支有效的防御力量

and be the third largest military

并成为第三大军队

in the world.

在世界上。

That could save a lot of money,

这可以节省大量资金，

safeguard European borders,

保卫欧洲边界，

and enhance cultural understanding

并增进文化理解

with soldiers from 27 different countries

让来自27个不同国家的士兵

serving one common purpose.

为一个共同的目标服役。

What about money?

那么资金问题呢？

Well,

嗯，

it's complicated.

这很复杂。

The EU created the largest single market in the world. 文化背景

欧盟创建了世界上最大的单一市场。

Inside it,

在其内部，

you can trade border and customs free.

你可以进行无边界和免关税的贸易。

Countries that entered it

加入它的国家

got a massive boost to their economies.

经济得到了极大的提升。

Even between neighbors,

即使在邻国之间，

trade increased by up to 500% 語法

贸易额也增长了高达500%

and there was a steady creation of new jobs.

并且不断创造出新的就业机会。

Research has suggested 表達脈絡

研究表明

that joining the EU

加入欧盟

has left most new members

使得大多数新成员国

with an average of a 12% higher GDP

其GDP平均高出12%

than if they had remained outside. 語法

相比如果他们留在欧盟之外的话。

And for those regions with weaker economies

而对于那些经济较弱

and poor infrastructure,

和基础设施落后的地区，

EU institutions provide billions of euros every year,

欧盟机构每年提供数十亿欧元，

helping economic investment,

帮助进行经济投资、

infrastructure,

基础设施建设、

and social development.

以及社会发展。

On the negative side, 表達脈絡

从负面来看，

the EU tries to hold together countries with vastly different economies 短語動詞

欧盟试图将经济状况截然不同的诸多国家结合在一起

and laws regarding labor,

这些国家在关于劳工、

taxes,

税收、

and social security.

以及社会保障方面的法律大相径庭。

The cost of 1 hour of work

一小时工作的成本

in an EU country

在一个欧盟国家

ranges from 4 Euros an hour 語法

从每小时4欧元

to 40 Euros an hour.

到每小时40欧元不等。

Some countries have large industries

一些国家拥有庞大的工业

and strong exports,

和强劲的出口，

while others focus on services,

而另一些国家则侧重于服务业、

tourism,

旅游业、

or natural resources.

或自然资源。

On top of this,

除此之外，

the Euro is the common currency of some, 語法

欧元是一些国家的共同货币，

but not all of these countries.

但并非所有这些国家都使用。

As the Greek crisis shows, 講解

正如希腊危机所显示的，

this can be a recipe for disaster. 習語

这可能是灾难的根源。

You cannot unify a vastly different economies under one currency, 語法

你不能将截然不同的经济体统一在一种货币下，

but leave their economic policies separate.

却让它们的经济政策保持分离。

So,

所以，

should all EU countries unite under the common currency or not?

所有欧盟国家是否应该统一在共同货币之下呢？

Should the weakest links be thrown out of the Euro 講解

是应该把最薄弱的环节踢出欧元区

or should countries be made to adopt common policies 語法

还是应该迫使各国采取共同政策

on taxes,

在税收、

healthcare,

医疗保健、

and social security?

和社会保障方面？

It's a question that's been brewing for years 習語

这是一个已经酝酿多年的问题

and is nowhere near a solution. 短語搭配

并且远未找到解决方案。

So,

那么，

everything briefly considered, 表達脈絡

简而言之综合来看，

is the European Union worth it?

欧盟是有价值的吗？

Here is our answer.

这是我们的答案。

The EU is very flawed

欧盟存在很多缺陷

and still needs a lot of work,

仍然需要大量改进，

but it's fair to say that the European Union 語氣意圖

但可以说欧盟

makes Europeans powerful in the world.

让欧洲人在世界上变得强大。

Put together, 語法

结合起来，

we lead in science,

我们在科学领域领先，

are one of the strongest economic powers,

是最强的经济大国之一，

and could have one of the strongest militaries in the world.

并且可能拥有世界上最强大的军队之一。

But more importantly, 表達脈絡

但更重要的是，

the EU gives us peace,

欧盟给了我们和平、

security,

安全、

and a sense of shared identity.

以及一种共同的身份认同感。

And something we all crave in these turbulent times,

还有在这些动荡时代我们都渴望的东西，

stability.

稳定。

If we want to protect the values we're so proud of,

如果我们想保护我们引以为豪的价值观，

a strong European Union

一个强大的欧盟

is the best way

是最好的方式

to make sure our voice is heard in the world. 習語

来确保我们的声音在世界上被听见。

Alone as small states,

作为孤立的小国，

we'll hardly stand a chance 習語

我们几乎没有机会立足

in a world of shifting superpowers.

在一个超级大国不断更迭的世界里。

What do you think about the EU and its future?

你对欧盟及其未来怎么看？

In recent years,

近年来，

the discussion about political topics

关于政治话题的讨论

has become super toxic

变得极度充满戾气

with sad real-world consequences.

并带来了令人悲哀的现实后果。

Let's not do that. 語氣意圖

我们别这样。

If you don't agree with this video,

如果你不同意这个视频的观点，

you're not our enemy. 語氣意圖

你不是我们的敌人。

You just have a different opinion

你只是有不同的意见

and that's fine.

这样完全没问题。

We're all in the same boat after all, 習語

毕竟我们都在同一条船上，

so let's have a fact-based discussion about our future.

所以让我们就我们的未来进行一次基于事实的讨论吧。