Brush Up Your English |
The new European Commission could be in place by 22 November - three weeks after it was supposed to take office.
MEPs will vote on the new team of Commissioners next Thursday (18 November) after the original vote of approval was postponed - mainly due to the controversy surrounding the Italian candidate for Commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione.
on its feet – na světě, na nohou (přenesený význam) could – mohl by (modální sloveso) to suppose – předpokládat, očekávat
to take office – začít úřadovat,zasednout (do úřadu) MEP (member of European Parliament) – poslanec Evropského parlamentu to vote on – volit, schvalovat original – původní
approval – schválení to postpone – odložit mainly – zvláště
due to – kvůli controversy – polemika surrounding – obklopující, týkající se
Assuming the European Parliament gives the go ahead, the new Commission could be approved by the Council on Friday (19 November) or on the Monday when EU foreign ministers meet.
"The Council has to endorse the parliament vote", said a Commission spokesperson adding that it is likely to just be a "matter of days".
In any case, the new commission will be given as early a starting date as possible to end the current political and legal uncertainty created by the caretaker situation in the EU.
to assume – předpokládat assuming – za předpokladu že to give the go ahead – ”dát zelenou”, odsouhlasit (go ahead! pokračuj!) foreign – zahraniční to have to – muset to endorse – schválit spokesperson – mluvčí to add – dodat to be likely – být pravděpodobný matter of days – otázka dní in any case – v každém případě, tak či tak as-as – tak-jak current – současný
uncertainty – nejistota
Practising portfolios
to brush up – (frázové sloveso) oprášit (znalosti), obnovit
most – většina attention – pozornost (to pay attention – dávat pozor)to focus on – zaměřit (se) na, zamířit to be deemed – být považován first – první
Mr Kovacs now has to get to grips with the taxation and customs union portfolio instead - and is set to be quizzed by MEPs on Tuesday morning (16 November).
His hearing will run parallel to that of Italy's Franco Frattini before the legal affairs committee.
Mr Frattini will also have a first hearing on Monday evening before the civil liberties committee - in order to cover all aspects of his justice and home affairs portfolio.
to have to – muset to get to grips – (fráze) obeznámit se s čím taxation – zdanění customs union – celní unie instead – místo toho to be set – být (u)stanoven to quiz – vyzkoušet, vyslýchat hearing – slyšení to run – probíhat, běhat affair - záležitost, aféra, obchod civil liberties – občanské svobody in order to – aby to cover – pokrýt
Mr Frattini, who has been Italy's foreign minister until now, is set to be far less controversial than his proposed predecessor Rocco Buttiglione, who caused such uproar with his view on gays and the role of women in society.
The third Commissioner, the Latvian Andris Piebalgs, is set to appear before MEPs to discuss his ideas for the energy portfolio on Monday evening.
foreign minister – ministr zahraničí far less – mnohem méně
proposed – navržený predecessor – předchůdce to cause – způsobit uproar – povyk, pozdvižení view – názor, pohled gay – homosexuál society – společnost third – třetí to appear – objevit se idea – názor
Better ambience
"The ambience is far more positive than it was three weeks ago", said a parliament spokesperson.
But the Commission, for its part, is determined not to appear too confident after its President-designate misjudged the situation the first time round.
"We're still in the hands of the parliament", said Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde.
ambience – atmosféra far more – mnohem více …the Commission, for its part, is … - Samotná komise je.., Komise jako taková je.. to be determined – být odhodlán, být rozhodnut too – příliš confident – sebejistý to misjudge – špatně posoudit
first time round – v prvním kole to be in the hands of – být v rukou (čeho, koho)
Připravuje Markéta Frýbová