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| Words in the News
Monday 21 October 2002
Vocabulary from the news. Listen to and read the report then find explanations of difficult words below.
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Ireland Votes “Yes” to European enlargement
Summary: The people of the Republic of Ireland have voted “Yes” to plans for enlarging the European Union. The result has been especially warmly received in the countries hoping to join the EU by 2004. In Poland - the largest of these countries - the feeling was one of relief. This report from Nicholas Walton:
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| | The News | |
| | | Poland's government watched the run-up the Irish vote on Nice with trepidation. It's staked its reputation on joining the European Union at the earliest opportunity, and there's no real Plan B to call upon if Poland's bid goes off-track. Relief at the result was easy to see on the face of Prime Minister Leszek Miller. He appeared on television news bulletins grinning widely, sipping a pint of Guinness and at one point singing, "I love you, Ireland!" Earlier, the Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, had thanked the Irish government for their successful campaign for a "yes" vote. Mr Kwasniewski said that nothing should overshadow the big idea of EU enlargement, which he said would overcome the rifts that had divided Europe. In the build-up to the referendum, Polish politicians and public figures had underlined the importance of Ireland's decision to people on the other side of Europe. Open letters were sent to Irish newspapers and delegations went to Dublin to remind the Irish people that their votes had far reaching consequences. Many Poles feel that the existing members of the EU are reluctant to accept the demands that new, poorer members will place on the Union's budget. The Irish backing of Nice will have reassured Poles that expansion is a policy that doesn't just attract public support in aspiring EU members.
Nicholas Walton, BBC, Warsaw
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| | The Words
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| | | run-up
the run-up to an event is the period of time and the events that happen just before it
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| | | trepidation
nervousness
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| | | staked its reputation
risked its reputation on the result
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| | | Plan B
an alternative plan
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| | | goes off-track
if something goes off-track then it doesn’t happen the way it was planned
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| | | grinning
smiling broadly
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| | | Guinness
a famous Irish beer
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| | | overshadow
if something overshadows an event or situation then it makes it seem less important
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| | | the rifts
a rift is something that prevents friendship between people who were friends before
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| | | far reaching
events or actions that are far-reaching have a very wide influence and affect very many things
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| | Read more about this story | |
| | Other Words in the News archives | |
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