英德將聯手推動歐洲經濟復興

Germany and the UK are performing well economically. Both are forecast to grow by about 2 per cent this year. Our countries lead the way in Europe on jobs – in each country employment reached a record level in 2013.

德國和英國經濟表現良好，預計今年兩國均將增長2%左右。我們兩個國家在就業方面走在歐洲前列——兩國的就業率均在2013年創下歷史最高水平。

This validates the tough decisions we have taken to consolidate our public finances and reform our economies. And since the crisis, both countries have introduced measures to ensure the financial sector never again jeopardises our public finances.

這證明，我們做出的整固公共財政和改革經濟的艱難決定是正確的。自本次危機爆發以來，兩國均採取措施確保金融部門永遠不再危及我們的公共財政。

But we must also acknowledge the risks. Some countries, such as the UK, still have to undertake substantial fiscal adjustments to ensure the future sustainability of public finances. Others must keep up the pace of structural reforms to boost growth and provide for ageing populations. Germany has undertaken significant reform, but there is no room for complacency.

但我們也必須承認，風險依然存在。英國等一些國家仍需實施重大的財政調整，以確保未來公共財政的可持續性。另外一些國家必須繼續推進結構改革，以促進經濟增長和供養本國日益老齡化的人口。德國已經實施了重大改革，但我們沒理由感到自滿。

There are external risks, too. We have seen the difficulties that some emerging markets are facing. And we must confront the problems –political and economic – in Ukraine.

另外還存在一些外部風險。我們已經看到，一些新興市場正面臨困難。此外，我們必須直面烏克蘭的政治和經濟問題。

Russian aggression in Crimea is clearly unacceptable. We cannot allow the sovereign territory of a European country to be compromised. And we have both been clear that taking a stand will not come without a cost – for Russia, but also for the EU and our partners. EU and Group of Seven finance ministers are preparing and implementing measures that demonstrate real economic consequences to Russia, while doing so in a balanced and proportionate manner. We hope that Russia, in its own interest, will return to the course of dialogue, de-escalation and co-operation. We are open to pursuing that channel.

俄羅斯入侵克里米亞顯然是不可接受的。我們不能允許一個歐洲國家的主權領土受到侵蝕。我們兩國都清楚，表明立場不會沒有代價——對俄羅斯來說是如此，對歐盟(EU)和我們的合作伙伴來說也是如此。歐盟和七國集團(G7)的財長們正以一種平衡而適當的方式來籌備和實施一些措施，讓俄羅斯明白實實在在的經濟後果。我們希望，俄羅斯能從其自身利益出發，回到對話、緩和衝突和合作的道路上來。我們願意通過這種途徑來解決問題。

Recovery in Europe is vital. But our continent is falling behind. Over the past six years the European economy has stalled. In the same period the Indian economy has grown by more than a third, and the Chinese economy by almost 70 per cent. Europe’s share of world patent applications almost halved in the past decade. A quarter of young people looking for work cannot find any. Europe accounts for just over 7 per cent of the world’s population but 50 per cent of global social welfare spending. Reform is the key.

歐洲的復甦至關重要。但歐洲大陸正逐漸落在別人的後面。過去六年，歐洲經濟停滯不前。而同期，印度經濟增長了逾三分之一，中國經濟增長了近70%。歐洲專利申請量佔全球的比例在過去十年裏幾乎下降了一半。在找工作的年輕人當中，有四分之一找不到任何工作。歐洲人口只佔全球的7%多一點，但社會福利支出卻佔全球的50%。改革是關鍵。

Each country in Europe needs to make reforms at the national level. For many countries that means consolidating public finances; supporting business and investing in infrastructure; and freeing up labour markets to create jobs. But we also need action at the European level. We must complete the EU’s single market, especially in services, open up to international markets and conclude reforms to the euro area.

歐洲各國都需在國家層面上實施改革。對許多國家而言，這意味着整固公共財政、支持企業和投資基礎設施、以及放開勞動力市場以創造就業。但我們還需在歐洲層面採取行動。我們必須建成歐盟單一市場（尤其是在服務業領域）、向國際市場開放以及完成對歐元區的改革。

The eurozone has achieved major changes: the European Stability Mechanism has been created to support countries in difficulty; a Single Supervisory Mechanism is now overseeing major banks; and the proposed Single Resolution Mechanism will clarify how banks in trouble will be resolved, at minimum cost to the taxpayer.

歐元區已經實現了重大改變：創建了歐洲穩定機制(ESM)來支持陷入困境的國家；出臺了單一監管機制(Single Supervisory Mechanism)來監管主要銀行；擬議中的單一處置機制(Single Resolution Mechanism)將明確，如何在讓納稅人承擔最小成本的前提下處置陷入困境的銀行。

A stable euro is good for the global economy, and especially for Europe. The crisis has shown that the eurozone needs a common fiscal and economic policy with corresponding improved governance. The UK fully recognises the progress made so far in responding to the crisis, and it supports the case for further steps forward. But as the euro area continues to integrate, it is important that countries outside the euro area are not at a systematic disadvantage in the EU. So future EU reform and treaty change must include reform of the governance framework to put euro area integration on a sound legal basis, and guarantee fairness for those EU countries inside the single market but outside the single currency.

歐元穩定有利於全球經濟，尤其有利於歐洲。此次危機已經表明，歐元區需要一個共同的財政和經濟政策，同時相應提高治理水平。英國充分認識到迄今爲應對危機而取得的進展，同意有必要採取進一步的措施。但在歐元區不斷推進一體化的同時，重要的是不讓非歐元區國家在歐盟內部陷於系統性的不利地位。因此，未來的歐盟改革和條約修訂必須包括治理框架的改革，以使歐元區一體化建立在健全的法律基礎上，保證公平對待那些在單一市場內但不使用歐元的歐盟國家。

Some suggest that reforming the EU is impossible. We have already proved them wrong. Last year saw the first ever real-terms cut to the EU budget. Together, we are proposing a programme for cutting red tape in Europe that already has the support of 12 other member states and the European parliament.

一些人認爲，改革歐盟是不可行的。我們已經證明了他們的看法是錯誤的。去年，歐盟有史以來首次削減了預算中的實際項目支出。我們兩國正攜手提出一個簡化歐洲內部官僚程序的計劃，該計劃已經獲得了另外12個成員國和歐洲議會(European parliament)的支持。

Moreover, the EU has recently agreed trade deals with Canada, Singapore and South Korea. After we signed the South Korea deal, EU service exports there jumped 9 per cent. We have now set ourselves the urgent task of completing the transatlantic trade and investment partnership with the US. This would be the world’s biggest ever trade deal, a huge economic prize.

此外，歐盟最近與加拿大、新加坡和韓國簽署了貿易協定。在我們與韓國簽署協定之後，歐盟對韓國的服務業出口飆升了9%。我們現在已爲自己設定了一個緊迫任務，那就是與美國簽署跨大西洋貿易和投資合作協定。這將是世界上有史以來最大的貿易協定，有着巨大的經濟好處。

We consequently approach European reform with optimism. Reform supports recovery. Looking ahead, we can create a flexible and outward-looking EU. One where EU action fully respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, avoiding unnecessary interference. One that builds on its existing values of democracy and the rule of law. And one that serves as an example to its neighbours.

因此，我們對歐洲的改革持樂觀態度。改革支持復甦。展望未來，我們能夠打造出一個靈活而開放的歐盟，一個採取行動時充分尊重輔助性原則(principle of subsidiarity)和相稱性原則(principle of proportionality)、避免不必要干預的歐盟，一個建立在自身現有民主價值觀和法治基礎上的歐盟，一個可爲鄰國榜樣的歐盟。

No one should assume that European decline is inevitable. It is in our hands to build our future success. And the UK and Germany are committed to making that happen.

人們不應認爲歐洲的衰落不可避免。我們未來的成功掌握在自己手中。英國和德國將致力於讓歐洲取得成功。