国际英语新闻：EU summit agrees to boost aid to Eastern European members

BRUSSELS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders wrapped up their two-day summit on Friday, evaluating the EU's economic stimulus plan, agreeing to raise aid to struggling Eastern European economies, and providing more funds for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to boost its lending capacity for poor countries.

    "Good progress has been made in implementing the European Economic Recovery Plan adopted last December," said a conclusion document.

EU rotating Presidency Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (L) talks with European Commission's President Jose Manuel Barroso during the press conference after the first day meeting of EU spring summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, March 19, 2009.

"Although it will take time for the positive effects to work their way through the economy, the size of the fiscal efforts (around 3.3 percent of EU GDP) will generate new investments, boost demand, create jobs and help the EU move to a low-carbon economy," it said.

    EU member states expressed "confidence in the medium and long term outlook of the EU economy" and "determination to do what is necessary to restore jobs and growth", the document said, stressing that the single market was "central to making the recession in Europe shorter and less severe."

    "By continuing to work in a coordinated manner, within the framework of the Single Market and EMU (the Economic and Monetary Union), the EU will overcome the crisis and emerge stronger," the document said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Foreign Secretary David Miliband attend a press conference held after the close of the two-day European Union spring summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, March 20, 2009

In June, the European Council "will take its first decisions to strengthen the EU's financial sector regulations and supervision" based on the commission's proposals following thorough discussion in the council on supervision of the financial sector.

    The EU leaders agreed to double the EU's medium-term financial aid, or crisis fund, to 50 billion euros (68 billion dollars) to help its Central and Eastern member states out of their financial crunch.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a press conference held after the close of the two-day European Union spring summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, March 20, 2009.

The European Commission raised the crisis fund from 12 billion euros (16.32 billion dollars) to 25 billion euros (34 billion dollars) in December 2008 when Hungary and Latvia received a total assistance of 9.6 billion euros (13.06 dollars).

    More countries are expected to demand such assistance, with Romania being the next, as Central and Eastern European countries have suffered more severe losses compared with their Western neighbors.

    The summit made a "to-do" list defining the EU's position at the G20 Summit in London on April 2.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy addresses a press conference held after the close of the two-day European Union spring summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, March 20, 2009.

EU leaders announced at the end of the summit that the bloc would provide 75 billion euros (103 billion U.S. dollars) to the IMF to boost its lending ability, urging other countries to follow suit.

    EU members also agreed to invest 5-billion-euro (6.8-billion-dollar) of unused budget funds into energy and broadband infrastructure construction.

    They specifically agreed on orientations for setting up a crisis mechanism to deal with disruptions of supplies.

    The summit also considered preparations for the Copenhagen Conference on climate change in December.

    The summit also adopted the Eastern Partnership Initiative, designed to enhance ties between the EU and its eastern neighbors, such as Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova.