Týdeník Veřejná správa

Brush Up Your English (Slovníček)

Plans for EU presidency delayed

The unstable political situation in Prague may cause a delay in the country's preparation for its EU chairmanship, starting in January 2009. The Czech Republic will be the second new member state - of the ten that joined the bloc in 2004 - to take on the union's six-month rotating presidency, following Slovenia in the first half of 2008. Mr Topolanek was originally planning to appoint a special representative charged with overlooking the preparations but he has abandoned the idea.
to delay – zpozdit unstable – nestabilní to cause – způsobit chairmanship – předsednictví member state – členská země to join – připojit to take on – převzít to follow – následovat originally – původně to appoint – jmenovat representative – zástupce, představitel to overlook – dohlížet preparation – přípravato abandon – zanechat, zrušit, vzdát se čeho.

Still, he pointed out on Wednesday that it would be "unacceptable" if Prague's preparation for the presidency was delayed due to "turbulence on the Czech political scene." The Czech government collapse comes in the context of wider political turmoil in central Europe, with the Polish authorities currently struggling to create a new coalition and with Hungary's prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany keeping his job by the skin of his teeth following media leaks that he had lied to win elections.

still – nicméně to point out – poukázat, zdůraznit unacceptable – nepřijatelný to delay – zpozdit due to – kvůli

wider – širší turmoil – zmatek, nepokoj central – střední

authority – vedení, zákonná moc currently – v současné době to struggle – bojovat, zápasit, snažit se prime minister – premier to keep – udržet (neprav. slov.: keep, kept, kept) by the skin of his teeth – o fous, tak tak, media leaks – únik informací v médiíchto lie – lhát.

Připravuje Markéta Frýbová