Brush Up Your English (Slovníček)
The agreement comes after years of talks on the issue and days of pressure from the three countries originally blocking the deal. Key stakeholders have welcomed the agreement. "Today's decision on VAT rates comes as a massive relief for those small service providers, which would otherwise have been hit by painful rate hikes," said Hans-Werner Muller from UEAPME, representaing small businesses. He added "The only sour note is that the member states failed to agree to permanently applying these reduced rates," as it would have spared the SMEs "future embarrassing debacles," expected when the VAT package is negotiated once again in 2010.
agreement – dohoda talks – rozhovory issue – problematika, problem pressure – tlak, nátlak originally – původně deal – dohoda stakeholder – investor decision – rozhodnutí relief – úleva provider – poskytovatel otherwise – jinak, za jiných okolností painful – bolestivý rate hike – zvýšení sazby to add – doplnit, dodat sour – kyselý to fail – selhat, neuspět to fail to agree – nesouhlasit, odmítnout souhlasit to apply – použít, aplikovat reduced – snížený to spare – ušetřit embarrassing – trapný to expect – očekávat to negotiate – vyjednávat.
The European Builders Confederation stated "Common sense has won! Reverting to normal rates would have been a catastrophe for the construction industry." But the HOTREC, group representing Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés in Europe, made clear its disappointment that the initial request by France during the VAT talks was not fulfilled. The lobby argued the ministers were "simply asked to let every government decide whether to apply its own standard or reduced rate to restaurant services," noting it is a shame that the restaurant sector and "its labour-intensity and potential for job creation were not recognised." The impact of lower VAT rates in locally provided services, including restaurants, is set to be evaluated by the European Commission in its report due mid-2007.
to state – prohlásit common sense – zdravý rozum to revert to – vrátit se k construction industry – stavební průmysl to make clear – dát najevo disappointment – zklamání initial – původní to fulfil – vyplnit, naplnit to argue – tvrdit to let – nechat whether – zda, jestli to apply – aplikovat its own – své vlastní reduced – snížený to note – poznamenat shame – ostuda
to recognise – uznat, poznat impact – dopad lower – nižší including – včetně to evaluate – ohodnotitdue – očekávaný, splatný.
Připravuje Markéta Frýbová