[ti:Europe Faces Difficult Issues as Germany Becomes EU President] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Europe faces big economic, trade and public health issues [00:06.24]as Germany takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. [00:14.20]The EU's most powerful member became president of the Council on July 1. [00:22.84]It will head the 27-member political and economic bloc for the next six months. [00:32.28]As the EU's president, German officials will be dealing with [00:38.00]the COVID-19 health crisis and the economic damage it has caused in Europe. [00:48.08]Other issues include the effects of Britain's withdrawal from the EU, [00:55.68]the bloc's trade with China and tensions with the United States. [01:04.76]Germany's return to the presidency comes as its leader, [01:09.52]Chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to leave office next year. [01:16.44]With her country taking control of the EU presidency, [01:21.80]she will need to persuade European leaders to compromise. [01:28.68]One of the first issues facing the bloc is settling differences [01:34.52]on an $843 billion spending plan [01:39.80]aimed at speeding up Europe's economic recovery. [01:45.12]EU members also need to reach agreement on a multi-year budget, [01:51.60]which is expected to cost more than $1 trillion. [01:57.84]On Monday, Merkel said she hoped the 27-member bloc [02:03.80]would agree to a deal on the budget and additional spending later this month. [02:11.92]She spoke at talks with French President Emmanuel Macron when they met in Germany. [02:21.28]The German presidency comes as Merkel is riding a crest of popularity. [02:28.68]Part of the reason is what some people see as her success dealing with the pandemic. [02:37.20]Another reason might be her decision to work with France [02:42.16]to push for a large coronavirus recovery spending measure. [02:48.60]The goal is to help European countries, which have struggled economically [02:55.20]because of restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. [03:03.04]Usually, Germany is considered one of the EU's more frugal members [03:10.32]and opposes new spending. [03:14.68]In addition, the EU and Britain have intensified negotiations [03:21.72]aiming to define their relationship after Britain's withdrawal from the bloc. [03:29.80]Among the issues are rules governing trade between the two sides. [03:36.44]The British government is hoping to reach an agreement soon. [03:43.68]John Springford is deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, [03:50.32]a research group in London. [03:54.64]Springford said he believes that the interests of Germany and France [04:01.00]are closely linked and have helped Europe. [04:06.32]"...There's a realization that she wants to have been a chancellor [04:11.32]that has made Europe stronger," he noted. [04:16.68]Sebastien Maillard is head of the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris. [04:23.52]He believes that Merkel is thinking about her legacy [04:28.52]and is taking steps to make this EU presidency more meaningful. [04:36.32]‘It's really a time for her to make history, so this presidency surely [04:42.68]will make a difference compared to previous ones," he said. [04:49.08]But making a difference will not to be easy. [04:52.80]The Reuters news agency reports that Germany wants fairer trade relations with China. [05:02.04]European companies say China does not give them the same ability [05:07.80]to sell products in its markets as Chinese businesses have in Europe. [05:14.60]Tensions between the EU and the United States have grown [05:19.48]during the presidency of Donald Trump. [05:23.28]The U.S. military plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany. [05:30.76]Maillard noted, however, that Germany and the U.S. continue to have a close relationship. [05:40.76]"...We share many common values, [05:43.76]and there is much for both economies to share together," he said. [05:49.84]He added that the U.S. should treat the EU as a whole and not as a divided group. [05:59.36]But observers like Daniel Gros [06:02.56]wonder how much Germany can do as a European Council president. [06:08.92]Gros directs the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels. [06:15.92]"The presidency of a big country cannot achieve a lot. [06:20.80]Because if it tries to push its own priorities, the other countries will react..." he said. [06:30.36]I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM