New Vocabulary 7: "Sarkozy and Merkel meet as Paris prepares to take EU reins."

From "Sarkozy and Merkel meet as Paris prepares to take EU reins," International Herald Tribune, June 9, 2008.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/09/europe/EU-GEN-Germany-France.php

* reins: (n) usually plural. A long thin piece of material, especially leather, which helps you to control and direct a horse.

"French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country takes the reins of the European Union next month, said during a visit to Germany Monday that he will need Berlin's help as he pushes for a common EU defense policy and other goals."


* credit sb with sth: 1. to consider that someone has a particular quality. 2. to say that someone is responsible for something good.

"The French leader, who met with Chancellor Angela Merkel in southern Germany, credited her with "unblocking" Europe during Germany's turn in control of the EU presidency last year."


* stint: (n) a fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or activity.

"France takes over the EU presidency from Slovenia on July 1, and Sarkozy said last week that he would use Paris' six-month stint in the EU chair to push for a common defense policy for the 27-nation bloc."

* wary: (adj) not completely trusting or certain about something or someone.

"The United States has been wary of the French-led push for a security and defense role for the EU because of concerns it could threaten NATO unity. Sarkozy said last week that France's proposals would not undermine NATO."


* amid: (prep) in the middle of or surrounded by; among.

"The meeting also came amid uncertainty over the outcome of Thursday's referendum in Ireland on the EU's Lisbon Treaty, meant to reform the bloc's structures and streamline its decision making."


* streamline: (v) to improve the effectiveness of an organizaiton such as a business or government, often by making the way activities are performed simpler.

"The meeting also came amid uncertainty over the outcome of Thursday's referendum in Ireland on the EU's Lisbon Treaty, meant to reform the bloc's structures and streamline its decision making."