BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Croatia enters the European Union
1 July 2013
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The European Union now has 28 member states. Croatia officially joined on Monday after
a process that lasted almost a decade. Thousands of people attended a special event in
the capital Zagreb to mark the occasion. But the new era has been greeted cautiously by
both locals and foreign officials.
Guy De Launey reports for the BBC:
As the clock struck midnight, the anthem of the European Union rang out across
Zagreb's main square and at last Croatia completed its journey from combat zone of
the former Yugoslavia to member of Europe s biggest club.
But this was not entirely an ode to joy. Zagreb's main square was hardly packed for
most of the coming-out party. And that reflects the ambivalence many people here now
feel about membership. After the prolonged economic crisis, the EU no longer looks like
the promised land Croatia applied to join a decade ago.
Likewise, the new member's own economic troubles have caused concern among the
other 27 states. Visiting foreign ministers stressed the EU's role as a builder of peace
rather than prosperity. A good point, bearing in mind Croatia's recent past. But also,
perhaps, a diplomatic fig-leaf.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
anthem official song of a particular country or organisation
combat zone battleground during war
an ode to joy a song about happiness (also, the title of the
European Union anthem)
ambivalence having positive and negative feelings at the same
time
prolonged continuing for a long time
the promised land a place where people expect to find complete
happiness
prosperity financial success / having lots of money
a diplomatic fig-leaf a political idea or action that covers up an
embarrassing issue
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/07/130701_witn_croatia.shtml
Related story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23118035
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com