THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 20, 2016- Topic 2
Unity and COHESION were conspicuously absent at the
Bratislava castle where the EU 28 minus 1 met to discuss the post-Brexit world.
Nobody is harbouring any illusions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker admitted that the EU is in an
‘existential crisis.’ Brexit is only the latest symptom of the fear and DISCONTENT
that have spread across the continent, fuelled by the migrant crisis,
Islamophobia, Eurozone WOEs and terrorist attacks. Friday’s meeting was organised
by Donald Tusk, President of the European
Council, that provides strategic direction to the EU, in order to ‘diagnose’
the situation and to forge a united path forward. This is not going to be an
easy task given that the bloc is split into factions, mainly around issues of
economics and migration.
‘The Bratislava Declaration’ offers a
road map for the next six months, on migration, border security,
counter-terrorism, defence and economic and social development, providing
political backing to measures announced by Mr. Juncker in his State of the
Union address in Brussels. Europe is much like a STACK of Jenga blocks at present. Each move
needs PRECISION
and care in order to preserve the integrity of an increasingly TENUOUS
union. The declaration identifies various areas for action. Some of these are
likely to find wide acceptance, such as funding for strategic investments
across the region, establishing a common capital market across the EU and
acquiring advanced traveller information to secure borders. Other areas, such
as migration, are more CONTENTIOUS. Hungarians will participate in a national referendum in
October to decide whether they will accept the recommended share. The EU must
find a creative, humane and effective solution to receive and resettle
refugees. Another contentious proposal is the European army. Mr. Juncker had
proposed that member-states move towards POOLING and centralising their defence and
diplomatic resources. While there may be advantages with regard to defence
procurement and operational efficiency and capabilities, it is exactly this
kind of a ‘more Europe’ response to a problem that has left EU member-states
and citizens DISENCHANTED and fearful of what they see as Brussels’s overreach.
Brussels will do well to HEED the lessons of Brexit. This can be done in at least two
ways. First, by focussing on the big picture and on areas where it has a
comparative advantage while letting national governments take the lead in
others. Second, by encouraging members to engage more rigorously with their
citizens on EU issues — explaining policies and their outcomes, collecting
feedback, and inviting ideas. These steps will go a long way towards, to use
Mr. Tusk’s phrase, not letting this crisis go to waste.
Vocabulary
Cohesion: the action or fact of forming a united whole.
Example: The work at present lacks cohesion
Synonyms: unity, togetherness, solidarity, bond, coherence
Discontent: lack of contentment; dissatisfaction with one's circumstances.
Example: Popular discontent with the system had been general for several years
Synonyms: dissatisfaction, disaffection, discontentment, discontentedness
Woe: great sorrow or distress.
Example: They had a complicated tale of woe
Synonyms: misery, sorrow, distress, wretchedness, sadness, unhappiness
Stack: a pile of objects, typically one that is neatly arranged.
Example: A stack of boxes
Synonyms: heap, pile, mound, mountain, pyramid, tower
Precision: the quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.
Example: The deal was planned and executed with military precision
Synonyms: exactness, exactitude, accuracy, correctness, preciseness
Tenuous: very weak or slight.
Example: The tenuous link between interest rates and investment
Synonyms: slight, insubstantial, meager, flimsy, weak, doubtful, dubious
Contentious: causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Example: A contentious issue
Synonyms: controversial, disputable, debatable, disputed, open
to debate
Pooling: (of two or more people or organizations) put (money or other assets) into a
common fund.
Example: They entered a contract to pool any gains and invest them profitably
Disenchanted: free (someone) from illusion; disappoint.
Example: He may have been disenchanted by the loss of his huge following
Synonyms: disillusioned, disappointed, disabused, let down, fed
up, dissatisfied
Heed: careful attention.
Example: If he heard, he paid no heed
Synonyms: attention, notice, note, regard, consideration, thought, care
