Brush Up Your English

Five new member states in 'big bang' approach to join euro

Five new EU members are keen to get euro notes and coins into the pockets of their citizens as soon as possible, according to a European Commission report published on Wednesday (10 November). Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Slovakia all favour a so-called "big bang" approach to joining the euro, meaning that they will introduce euro notes and coins at the same time as joining the single currency system.
”big bang” – velký třesk approach – přístup to join – připojit se, spojit to be keen – snažit se, usilovat o něco note – bankovka coin – mince pocket – kapsa citizen – občan as soon as possible – co nejdříve (často se zkracuje ASAP) according to – podle Latvia – Lotyšsko Lithuania – Litva Slovenia – Slovinsko Slovakia – Slovensko to favor – preferovat co

so-called – takzvaný meaning – což znamená single currency – jednotná měna

By contrast, the 12 old member states that joined the euro joined the system in 1999, but waited three years before introducing notes and coins. Greece joined the system later and only spent 12 months preparing the changeover from Drachma to euro. New member states will have their work cut out to prepare in time. Most old member states took six years to prepare, whereas some of the new member states want to join the euro as early as 2007. "Preparation ... should not be underestimated or delayed if we want to ensure a wide public acceptance and a smooth transition", said Economics and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia.
by contrast – naproti tomu to wait – čekat to introduce – představit later – později to spend – strávit, utratit (neprav.sloveso: spend, spent, spent) changeover – přeměna

in time – včas to take – vzít, zabrat čas whereas – zatímco

as early as – již preparation – příprava to underestimate – podcenit to delay – zpozdit to ensure – zajistit acceptance – akceptace, přijetí smooth – hladký transition – přechod

Experience counts
The "big bang" method of adopting the euro is easier to achieve given that most citizens in the new member states are familiar with the euro and are likely to have used the currency on holiday in the euro zone or even in their home countries. Many of the countries involved also have had recent experience of changing currency regimes after regaining independence.
experience – zkušenost to count – počítat (se) to adopt – přijmout easier – snazší, jednodušší to achieve – dosáhnout

given that – za předpokladu, že most – většina to be familiar with – být s něčím obeznámen to be likely to – způsobilý k, náchylný k, pravděpodobný currency – měna even – dokone

involved – zúčastněný recent – nedávný to regain – znovu získat independence - nezávislost

On the other hand, certain particularities of new member states will make the changeover harder. There are generally fewer cash machines in new member states, making it harder to distribute new notes. In addition, people tend to conduct transactions in cash, rather than using cards, which increases the relative importance of money.
on the other hand – na druhou stranu certain – určitý, jistý

particularity – osobitost, mimořádnost make sth harder – ztížit generally – obecně fewer – méně cash machine – bankomat

in addition – navíc, k tomu to tend to – mít tendenci to conduct – provádět in cash – hotově, v hotovosti rather than – spíše než to increase – zvýšit importance – důležitost

Připravuje Markéta Frýbová

Další informace [nápis]
Číslo 6/2005
Časopis Veřejná správa č. 6/2005
Časopis Veřejná správa
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