Brush Up Your English (Slovníček) |
The strong Czech stance against the constitution comes just after a Madrid conference of 18 pro-constitution states last weekend issued a clear message in defence of the treaty's "fundamental content". Mr Zahradil's comments reflect the mood in important parts of his own ODS party which took office in the government earlier this month - and which includes eurosceptic Czech president Vaclav Klaus as its most prominent member. But the Czech Greens, the junior coalition partner of the ODS, are already unhappy with the anti-constitution noise coming from Prague, according to Czech press reports.
challenge – výzva strong – silný stance – postavení, postoj, názor to issue – vydat in defence – na obranu fundamental – základní to reflect – odrážet mood – nálada government – vláda to include – zahrnovat prominent – přední already – už unhappy – nešťastný, nespokojený noise – zvuk according to – podle press reports – tiskové zprávy.
In the actual re-negotiations in the constitution, Prague is unlikely to go so far as to push for the radical ideas of president Klaus - who champions a new decentralised Organisation of European States replacing the EU. "Seventy percent of what is included in the constitution is also part of the [EU's] Nice and Amsterdam treaties", said Mr Zahradil. "I do not expect we will deconstruct the current treaties".
actual – konkrétní, faktický, skutečný re-negotiation – opětovné vyjednávání constitution – ústava to be unlikely – není pravděpodobné, že to push for – naléhat, protlačovat to champion – prosazovat to replace – nahradit to include – zahrnovat treaty – smlouva to expect – očekávat to deconstruct – rozbořit, rozbít current – současný.
The Czech resistance against a full-blown EU constitution is expected to be echoed by Poland, which has seen its conservative government voicing similar ideas with both countries' presidents discussing positions over the issue last week. Some of the Czech thinking also bears resemblance to the debate in the Netherlands, where politicians are discussing how to curb EU powers amid ongoing talks on a new centre-left government.
resistance – odpor full-blown – plnohodnotný to expect – očekávat to echo – ozývat se, papouškovat to voice – vyslovit názor similar – podobný issue – problém, záležitost to bear resemblance – podobat se to curb – omezit power – pravomoc, moc amid – uprostřed ongoing – probíhající government – vláda.
Připravuje Markéta Frýbová