歐盟還值得保留嗎，還是該解散了？：英語精讀講義

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

你認為歐盟是有價值的嗎

or should we end it?

還是我們應該解散它？

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

許多人對歐盟感到強烈的隔閡

while others praise its achievements.

而另一些人則稱讚它的成就。

Everything considered,

綜合考慮，

is its existence good or bad for Europeans?

它的存在對歐洲人是好還是壞？

Since it looks like the UK is leaving the EU,

既然英國看起來正在脫離歐盟，

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

我們很大程度上會把它當成已經不再是這個俱樂部的一員。

The European Union,

歐盟，

combining its 27 member countries,

結合其27個成員國，

has a population of about 450 million people,

擁有約4.5億人口，

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

使其成為世界上人口第三多的類似國家實體。

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

它是世界上按GDP計算的第二大經濟體

and has the biggest single market in the world.

並擁有世界上最大的單一市場。

But originally,

但最初，

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

歐盟的建立完全是為了一個目的，

peace.

和平。

Europeans are really good at war.

歐洲人非常擅長戰爭。

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

所以他們幾乎在整個歷史中都捲入了血腥衝突。

A century-long rivalry between Germany and France alone

僅德國和法國之間長達一個世紀的競爭

cost millions of lives and ran so deeply 文法

就奪去了數百萬人的生命，並且結怨如此之深

that Germans invented their own word for it,

以至於德國人為其發明了一個專有詞彙，

Erbfeindschaft. 文化背景

Erbfeindschaft。

After the Second World War,

第二次世界大戰後，

Europeans decided they wanted lasting peace

歐洲人決定他們想要持久的和平

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

而不是建立在軍事力量平衡基礎上的和平。

Instead,

相反，

the economies, politics, and peoples of Europe

歐洲的經濟、政治和人民

should become so closely interconnected

應該變得如此緊密相連

that war would become both impractical and unthinkable.

以至於戰爭變得既不切實際又不可想像。

The plan worked.

這個計畫奏效了。

Between EU members,

在歐盟成員國之間，

we've had over 70 years of peace.

我們已經享有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?

但歐盟的成就和問題究竟是什麼？

Today,

今天，

EU citizens benefit from many individual freedoms.

歐盟公民受益於許多個人自由。

EU treaties and regulations

歐盟的條約和法規

ensure easy travel,

確保了出行的便利，

cheap telecommunications,

廉價的電信服務，

a great variety of goods and services,

種類繁多的商品和服務，

as well as very strong health and safety standards.

以及非常嚴格的健康和安全標準。

European institutions are not afraid to pick a fight 慣用語

歐洲機構並不害怕挑起爭端

with companies such as Microsoft, Apple, or Facebook

與諸如Microsoft、Apple或Facebook等公司

about fair competition,

在公平競爭、

tax evasion,

逃稅、

or data protection.

或資料保護等問題上。

Through the EU science programs,

透過歐盟的科學計畫，

the European countries became a collaborative engine

歐洲國家成為了一個合作引擎

that serves as a hub of science 片語搭配

作為一個科學中心

in the wider world.

服務於更廣闊的世界。

Unrestricted travel and the right to work anywhere

不受限制的旅行和在任何地方工作的權利

makes it easy to apply for funds

使申請資金變得容易

and set up international teams of experts 片語動詞

並能建立國際專家團隊

with the best equipment.

享有最好的設備。

In turn, 表達脈絡

反過來，

the EU became the world leader

歐盟成為了世界領導者

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

在其科學研究人員的全球份額方面

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

並且產生了世界科研總產量的25%以上

with only 5% of its population.

而其人口僅佔世界的5%。

But many citizens feel distrust towards the EU.

但許多公民對歐盟感到不信任。

Brussels seems far away

布魯塞爾似乎很遙遠

and untransparent,

且不透明，

technocratic,

充滿技術官僚色彩，

and difficult to understand.

而且難以理解。

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

歐盟在公眾溝通方面做得很糟糕，這也無濟於事，

and explaining what it actually does.

無法解釋它實際上做了什麼。

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

這種脫節也導致了幾十年來選民投票率不斷萎縮。

More transparency and accountability

更多的透明度和問責制

are desperately needed

是迫切需要的

if the EU institutions want the trust of their citizens.

如果歐盟機構想要贏得公民的信任。

Currently,

目前，

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

歐盟仍未從2015年的難民危機中緩過神來。

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

一些國家接受的尋求庇護者數量遠多於其他國家，

while the border countries are overwhelmed

而邊境國家則不堪重負

and feel left alone.

並感到孤立無援。

Other countries are shocked by the initially unregulated mass immigration

其他國家對最初不受管制的大規模移民感到震驚

and closed their borders,

並且關閉了邊境，

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

實際上切斷了進入歐洲的最大通道。

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

歐盟的財富和自由使其成為一個具吸引力的目的地

and this is unlikely to change.

而這不太可能改變。

The population is split on how to react to that.

民眾對如何應對這一問題存在分歧。

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

一些人認為歐洲讓太多文化不同的移民進入

without strictly demanding integration,

而沒有嚴格要求他們融入，

while others argue that immigration is not the problem,

而另一些人則認為移民不是問題，

but that racism and discrimination of immigrants

而是種族主義和對移民的歧視

is preventing integration.

阻礙了融入。

To strike a balance between helping refugees, 片語搭配

在幫助難民、

turning illegal immigrants away, 片語動詞

拒收非法移民、

and successfully integrating the ones that stay 文法

以及成功讓留下的人融入之間取得平衡

remains one of the most difficult and controversial challenges

仍然是最困難和最具爭議的挑戰之一

of the Union.

在歐盟內部。

Immigration aside, 表達脈絡

撇開移民不談，

many more challenges lie in the future,

未來還有許多挑戰，

like defense.

比如國防。

Traditionally,

傳統上，

European countries have relied strongly 片語搭配

歐洲國家嚴重依賴

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

美國透過NATO提供的保護。

But in the current political climate,

但在當前的政治氣候下，

Europe has to ask itself

歐洲必須問自己

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

它是否真的想為了自身的安全而依賴美國。

If combined today, 文法

如果在今天整合起來，

the militaries of EU members

歐盟成員國的軍隊

could form an effective defensive force

可以組建一支有效的防禦力量

and be the third largest military

並成為第三大軍隊

in the world.

在世界上。

That could save a lot of money,

這可以節省大量資金，

safeguard European borders,

保衛歐洲邊界，

and enhance cultural understanding

並增進文化理解

with soldiers from 27 different countries

讓來自27個不同國家的士兵

serving one common purpose.

為一個共同的目標服役。

What about money?

那麼資金問題呢？

Well,

嗯，

it's complicated.

這很複雜。

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

歐盟創建了世界上最大的單一市場。

Inside it,

在其內部，

you can trade border and customs free.

你可以進行無邊界和免關稅的貿易。

Countries that entered it

加入它的國家

got a massive boost to their economies.

經濟得到了極大的提升。

Even between neighbors,

即使在鄰國之間，

trade increased by up to 500% 文法

貿易額也增長了高達500%

and there was a steady creation of new jobs.

並且不斷創造出新的就業機會。

Research has suggested 表達脈絡

研究表明

that joining the EU

加入歐盟

has left most new members

使得大多數新成員國

with an average of a 12% higher GDP

其GDP平均高出12%

than if they had remained outside. 文法

相比如果他們留在歐盟之外的話。

And for those regions with weaker economies

而對於那些經濟較弱

and poor infrastructure,

和基礎設施落後的地區，

EU institutions provide billions of euros every year,

歐盟機構每年提供數十億歐元，

helping economic investment,

幫助進行經濟投資、

infrastructure,

基礎設施建設、

and social development.

以及社會發展。

On the negative side, 表達脈絡

從負面來看，

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

歐盟試圖將經濟狀況截然不同的諸多國家結合在一起

and laws regarding labor,

這些國家在關於勞工、

taxes,

稅收、

and social security.

以及社會保障方面的法律大相逕庭。

The cost of 1 hour of work

一小時工作的成本

in an EU country

在一個歐盟國家

ranges from 4 Euros an hour 文法

從每小時4歐元

to 40 Euros an hour.

到每小時40歐元不等。

Some countries have large industries

一些國家擁有龐大的工業

and strong exports,

和強勁的出口，

while others focus on services,

而另一些國家則側重於服務業、

tourism,

旅遊業、

or natural resources.

或自然資源。

On top of this,

除此之外，

the Euro is the common currency of some, 文法

歐元是一些國家的共同貨幣，

but not all of these countries.

但並非所有這些國家都使用。

As the Greek crisis shows, 講解

正如希臘危機所顯示的，

this can be a recipe for disaster. 慣用語

這可能是災難的根源。

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

你不能將截然不同的經濟體統一在一種貨幣下，

but leave their economic policies separate.

卻讓它們的經濟政策保持分離。

So,

所以，

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

所有歐盟國家是否應該統一在共同貨幣之下呢？

Should the weakest links be thrown out of the Euro 講解

是應該把最薄弱的環節踢出歐元區

or should countries be made to adopt common policies 文法

還是應該迫使各國採取共同政策

on taxes,

在稅收、

healthcare,

醫療保健、

and social security?

和社會保障方面？

It's a question that's been brewing for years 慣用語

這是一個已經醞釀多年的問題

and is nowhere near a solution. 片語搭配

並且遠未找到解決方案。

So,

那麼，

everything briefly considered, 表達脈絡

簡而言之綜合來看，

is the European Union worth it?

歐盟是有價值的嗎？

Here is our answer.

這是我們的答案。

The EU is very flawed

歐盟存在很多缺陷

and still needs a lot of work,

仍然需要大量改進，

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

但可以說歐盟

makes Europeans powerful in the world.

讓歐洲人在世界上變得強大。

Put together, 文法

結合起來，

we lead in science,

我們在科學領域領先，

are one of the strongest economic powers,

是最強的經濟大國之一，

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

並且可能擁有世界上最強大的軍隊之一。

But more importantly, 表達脈絡

但更重要的是，

the EU gives us peace,

歐盟給了我們和平、

security,

安全、

and a sense of shared identity.

以及一種共同的身分認同感。

And something we all crave in these turbulent times,

還有在這些動盪時代我們都渴望的東西，

stability.

穩定。

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

如果我們想保護我們引以為傲的價值觀，

a strong European Union

一個強大的歐盟

is the best way

是最好的方式

to make sure our voice is heard in the world. 慣用語

來確保我們的聲音在世界上被聽見。

Alone as small states,

作為孤立的小國，

we'll hardly stand a chance 慣用語

我們幾乎沒有機會立足

in a world of shifting superpowers.

在一個超級大國不斷更迭的世界裡。

What do you think about the EU and its future?

你對歐盟及其未來怎麼看？

In recent years,

近年來，

the discussion about political topics

關於政治話題的討論

has become super toxic

變得極度充滿戾氣

with sad real-world consequences.

並帶來了令人悲哀的現實後果。

Let's not do that. 語氣意圖

我們別這樣。

If you don't agree with this video,

如果你不同意這個影片的觀點，

you're not our enemy. 語氣意圖

你不是我們的敵人。

You just have a different opinion

你只是有不同的意見

and that's fine.

這樣完全沒問題。

We're all in the same boat after all, 慣用語

畢竟我們都在同一條船上，

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

所以讓我們就我們的未來進行一次基於事實的討論吧。