It is not clear to what extent closer cooperation will succeed in a core group.

Moves toward it in fiscal policy, for example, anathema to Britain, would also be opposed by Italy and Ireland inside the Eurozone. But if decision-making at 25 grinds to halt, France will not be alone in wanting to press ahead on social policy, for example, and coordination of justice and home affairs.

For the time being, that looks like solution that suits both London and Paris, as each jealously defends its own sphere of influence. But it will institutionalize the divide through the heart of the EU, just as enlargement is supposed to be reuniting the continent. It is a dangerous move for future European stability and solidarity.

Exercise 6. Comment on the reports presented by the students in exercise 4.

Make use of the following phrases giving some approval or criticism:

I support the view of…	Я поддерживаю точку зрения…
With this in mind…	Имея это ввиду…
All in all, my impression is…	В целом мое впечатление…
(Not) to be up to the mark	(Не) быть на хорошем уровне
To be quite at home in the subject	Хорошо владеть предметом
To be concise and to the point	Быть кратким и точным по сути
To be well-structured	Быть хорошо спланированным
To have a good (poor) command of the language	Хорошо (неважно) владеть языком
I hold (am of) the same opinion	Я придерживаюсь того же мнения
To give one’s point of view	Высказать точку зрения
To be up to a point inconsistent	Быть до известной степени непоследовательным
That is beside the point	Не в этом суть/дело
He carried his point	Он отстоял свою точку зрения/ идею
To come to the point	Дойти до главного/сути дела
His remarks lack point	Его замечания недостаточно конкретны
You missed the point	Вы не поняли сути дела
That’s not the point	Не в этом суть дела
He is off the point	Он говорит не по существу
We agree on certain points	По некоторым вопросам мы сходимся
I suppose we can stretch a point	Я полагаю, мы можем сделать скидку

Exercise 7. Translate the following using the active vocabulary:

1. В связи расширением Европейского Союза возникло множество проблем экономического характера.

2. В переговорах на высшем уровне в центре внимания был вопрос торгово-экономического характера.

3. Благодаря общим усилиям и решительным инициативам отношения между нашими странами развиваются с нарастающей интенсивностью (to develop at an accelerating pace).

4. Стимулирование экспорта, производственные, налоговые и ценовые стимулы имеют большое значение для придания импульса процессу преодоления рисков для экономической стабильности в Европе.

5. Были проведены встречи, которые предусматривают соблюдение выполнения обязательств по долгосрочному договору.

6. Встречи наглядно показали (to demonstrate vividly) близость (closeness) и схожесть (similarity) позиций двух стран по основным международным и региональным вопросам, договорились принять неотложные меры по устранению стимулов для производства всех видов оружия.

7. Приоритетное (господствующее) место в двусторонних отношениях занимает экономическое сотрудничество, оно активно развивается на основе взаимной выгоды в различных сферах двустороннего плана: от торговли до инвестиций, от энергетики до транспортных услуг и туризма.

8. Одним из общепризнанных ( one of the generally recognized) факторов, влияющих на улучшение деятельности учреждений, является существенное укрепление принципа материальной заинтересованности.

A BIG STEP TOWARDS WTO MEMBERSHIP – APPROVAL OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL

(The Economist May 29^th, 2004; )

After years of deadlock, the main obstacle to Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) vanished with mysterious ease. On May 21^st Pascal Lamy, the European Union's trade chief, and German Gref, the Russian economy minister, struck a deal.

Among other things, the Russians promised to raise gas prices for domestic industry from around $30 per thousand cubic meters to $49-57 by the end of 2010.

This was a big win for Russia. The EU' s original target – that domestic gas prices be raised to match export prices of over $100, which Europe pays for most of its Russian gas – is so far in the future as to be out of sight. Russia also secured relaxed timetables elsewhere. It has until 2007 to liberalize its telecoms market, and it may well take longer before competitors to the state-owned Rostelecom get licences and set up shop. It also has until 2013 to clean up or scrap its over priced and murky system of over-flight fees for foreign airlines.

What did the EU get in return for its sudden generosity? The answer is unclear. On the day of announcement, Russia seamed to come out strongly in favour of ratifying the Kyoto protocol on climate change, because " the EU has met us halfway in talks over the WTO." The protocol needs ratification by Russia if it is to come into force. If it happened, it would be a huge coup for the Europeans over the Americans, who have refused to ratify Kyoto.

Yet EU officials say that the Russians never raised Kyoto as a bargaining chip. And Mr Putin left a big hole by saying that ratification still depended on the exact conditions. His chef economic adviser, Andrei Illarionov, continues to rail against Kyoto, which says will hold back Russia's growth. "My opinion has not changed," he said this week, adding cryptically "and it's not only my opinion." He would not be drawn further, saying only "when I am free to add something, it will be loud and clear.'

Russia must still negotiate WTO entry with other members, including America, which will push for a crackdown on software and music piracy. But the EU was the biggest problem. If it does collect all the necessary approvals for WTO entry, late next year or in 2006, headline promises will matter less than the general framework that membership imposes. "Russia will need to change lots of laws to bring customs codes and other things in line," says Al Breach of Brunswick UBS, a Moscow investment bank. Although some bits of Russian industry, such as cars, will struggle to stay afloat in the WTO, others that Russia has barely developed, such as telecoms and financial services, will benefit an influx of foreign investors drawn by the promise of clearer rules. "Russia wants foreign entrants more than most WTO countries," says Mr. Breach.

Russia has “a tremendous amount of work” to do to reach a deal with the USA and other trading partners on its entry into the World Trade Organization. The official, who spoke on condition that she not be identified, said U.S. and Russian negotiators made some progress in talks on Moscow’s bid, but “nothing Earth-shattering.”

Russia is the biggest economy outside the WTO. It has set a goal of wrapping up bilateral market access negotiations by the end of the year. She noted that Russia also has not finished negotiations with Japan, Canada and Switzerland, even though it has wrapped up deals with the European Union, China and South Korea.

The Unites States is also playing a lead role in the multilateral negotiations on Russia’s accession, which cover areas such as copyright protections and food safety rules.

Many U.S. farm groups are wary that Moscow could undermine any bilateral commitments it makes to reduce tariffs on meat and poultry by maintaining food safety regulations that do not comply with WTO rules, she said. Talks between the USA and Russia on agricultural issues have not been “as promising as one would hope,” the U.S. official said.

The sudden agreement by EU negotiators in May to approve Russia’s WTO application was seen by many as trade-off for Russian support of Kyoto. On September 30, the Russian Cabinet approved the protocol’s ratification and sent a draft bill to the State Duma for approval before the year’s end.

The aim of the Kyoto is that nations should reduce their industrial emissions of carbon dioxide, the main gas causing the greenhouse effect and hence global warming. The target is to reduce levels to below those of 1990 before 2012, and the carrot held out to countries able to achieve that target is the permission to sell “emission rights” (“hot air” in the Kyoto jargon) to countries that are still over-emitting by the cut-off date. Kyoto can be activated as soon countries that represented over 55 percent of 1990 emissions have signed. The EU and some countries are already on board, but the US has refused to join and Russia can tip the balance.

In return for supporting Kyoto, Moscow gained approval of the terms that Russia will propose to the WTO in its application for entry. Bilateral agreements with WTO members are needed before an application to the organization as a whole is made, and negotiations with the EU, which accounts for over half of all Russian foreign trade (after Union enlargement), were seen as the toughest stage in this process.

The terms finally accepted by the EU include lowering Russian tariffs on some imports, particularly machinery, but that is probably as beneficial for Russia as for Europe, since rebuilding Russia’s industrial capacity will depend on affordable Western capital. The most striking part of agreement, and the part most appealing to Russia, is the EU’ s abandonment of its earlier demand that Russia stop subsidizing its industry with fuel prices that are far below international levels. Instead, the EU bargainers accepted a Russian pledge to gradually increase fuel prices, but to cost-covering rather than to world levels. In particular, the domestic gas price will rise to a level still below half of its current international price, and that no earlier than 2010.

Notes:

to come out (phrasal verb) – to declare yourself publicly, especially to be in favour of or against a plan, belief etc.;

cryptic – with a meaning that is hidden or nor easily understood: a cryptic message/ smile/remark таинственный, загадочный; a cryptic crossword clue; cryptically (adverb);

coup – сокращение от фр. coup d’йtat государственный переворот; удачный ход, удар;

to clean up (phrasal verb) – to clean thoroughly and remove anything unwanted;

to rail at/against sth/sb – to complain about something/somebody in a very angry way: She railed against the injustice of it all (pугаться); he railed at me – он стал на меня кричать; it’s no use railing against – какой смысл критиковать систему?

murky – мрачный, темный; his murky past – его темное прошлое;

to scrap – to get rid of as no longer needed useful or wanted;

to wrap up – to complete (a business arrangement, a meeting, etc.)

wary (adjective) – careful; looking out for danger;

carrot – informal a reward or an advantage that someone promises you as a way of encouraging you to do something; to hold out/to offer a carrot to somebody ; the electoral carrot of early tax cuts.

Active Vocabulary:

afloat [ q 'flqut] – на плаву;

to keep/ to stay afloat – быть свободным от долгов; не залезать в долги;

to bring into line – добиться единства взглядов, согласовывать;

to bring into accord – приводить к согласию;

to bring into step – приводить в соответствие;

to bring to terms – приводить к соглашению;

to bring nations together – сближать нации/народы;

to bring together different views – сблизить различные точки зрения;

to bring to a standstill – остановить;

to bring to nought Br. also naught (literary) – сводить на нет;

to bring one’s case to the Council – представить/внести вопрос на рассмотрение совета;

to bring the matter before the committee – представить/внести вопрос на рассмотрение комитета;

to bring down prices – снижать цены; вызывать падение цен;

to bring forward – выдвигать (предложение и т.п.);

to bring forward a draft resolution – выдвигать проект резолюции;

to bring in a bill – вносить (на рассмотрение) законопроект;

crackdown – амер. принятие крутых, репрессивных мер;

to trigger a crackdown – начать кампанию за принятие жестких мер; – приступить к проведению репрессивных мер;

deadlock – мертвая точка; тупик; безвыходное положение; эк. застой;

to break a deadlock/to escape from the deadlock – выйти/вырваться из тупика;

to come to/to reach a deadlock – зайти в тупик; попасть в безвыходное положение;

deadlock issue – вопрос/проблема, решение которого/-ой зашло в тупик;

the negotiations are deadlocked – переговоры зашли в тупик;

deal – сделка, соглашение;

to do/to make/to strike a deal with – заключить сделку с кем-либо; войти в соглашение с кем-либо;

to meet somebody halfway – идти на компромисс с кем-либо;

tariff – тариф; расценка; прейскурант; шкала ставок; таможенный тариф; пошлина;

rate of tariff – ставка тарифа, тарифная ставка;

alignment of tariffs – выравнивание тарифов/пошлин;

general reduction in tariffs – общее снижение тарифов;

trade-off – уступка; компромисс; компромиссное решение; альтернатива; выбор;

to trade off – 1. поступаться чем-либо; 2. изменять один показатель за счет другого;

to tip the balance – решить исход дела, оказаться решающим фактором, перевесить, склонить чашу весов;

to hold out/to offer a carrot to somebody – предлагать особенно благоприятные условия взамен на что-то;

to reduce industrial emissions of carbon dioxide – сокращать промышленные выбросы углекислого газа;

to cause the greenhouse effect and hence global warming – вызвать парниковый эффект и, следовательно, глобальное потепление;

to stop subsidizing the industry with fuel prices that are far below international levels – перестать субсидировать промышленность за счет дешевых энергоресурсов.

Exercise 1. Translate the following paying attention to italicized words:

1. All efforts have come to naught (=have not been successful).

2. Police officers are confident their successful crackdown on crime will continue.

3. The band has negotiated a new deal with their record company.

4. The two teams did a deal and Robson was traded.

5. You can get some really good deals from travel agents right now (=buy something at a good price).

6. The government has brought forward a plan to tackle urban crime.

7. The assassination of one very popular and outstanding political leader triggered off a wave of rioting. The government in its turn triggered a crackdown.

8. European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies.

9. The strike appeared to have reached a deadlock.

10. Despite months of discussion the negotiations remained deadlocked.

11. The government has scrapped its plans for earnings-related pensions.

12. The police are cracking down on illegal gambling and drunken driving.

13. They arrested a criminal with a murky past.

14. They won’t pay all our expenses but they might be prepared to meet us halfway.

15. The outlook for borrowers is bleak, as interests rates are certain to rise.

16. The company’s prospects look pretty bleak.

17. The heads of the two governments met to ratify the treaty.

18. The mayor has promised to clean up the town by getting rid of all criminals.

19. The committee has come out strongly against any change in the law.

20. Most of the speakers came out in support of these proposals.

21. Now the trade agreement is wrapped up all we have to do is wait for the first orders.

22. She was wary of putting too much trust in him. He was a wary old politician who never says too much.

Exercise 2. Study the following information about the use of adjectives in attributive and predicative position then translate what follows:

Most adjectives can be used in front of a noun (attributive position), or after a linking verb, e.g. be (predicative position):

Attributive: We’ve just seen an entertaining film.

Predicative: That film was entertaining.

Adjectives in predicative position are usually the complement of a linking verb (e.g. to be, to become, to feel, to appear, to keep /to stay + adjective, to remain, to taste, to make):

When she herd the noise Mary became very uneasy.

Many adjectives beginning with the letter a and adjectives describing health and feelings are usually used before nouns, they are used in predicative position:

Don’t disturb the children; they are asleep.