Fog in London - On U.K.’s Brexit talks : Learn Vocabulary (THE HINDU)

Fog in London - On U.K.’s Brexit talks : Learn Vocabulary (THE HINDU)

The British government is still struggling to bring clarity to its Brexit plans

British Prime Minister Theresa May continues to be in a bind about how to stage a less chaotic exit from the European Union. Neither the apparent concessions she seemed to offer her EU interlocutors in Florence nor her exhortation to rekindle the Renaissance spirit of open-mindedness is likely to be enough. Six months after London triggered Article 50 to leave the Union, and months after Ms. May called a snap election that brought humiliating results for her Conservative Party, there is a worrying lack of clarity and consensus within Britain and the government on what the final contours of the exit should be. Just days before Ms. May’s Florence speech, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ruffled feathers in his own government as well as in Brussels in an article on his version of Brexit, which included the oft-repeated and dubious claim of savings of £350 million a week and an unrealistically rosy picture of Britain’s future outside the bloc. Tory hardliners suggested that it was Mr. Johnson’s pre-emptive strike that held Ms. May back from offering a softer Brexit in Florence. Others in government accused Mr. Johnson of “backseat driving”, and Ms. May’s Cabinet colleagues found themselves having to defend the claim that they were all singing from the same hymn sheet.

While the Florence speech could be interpreted as an indication of a forced and fragile consensus within the government, it did not unlock the stalled negotiations with Brussels. The EU has insisted on making sufficient progress on the divorce bill, on the rights of EU and U.K. citizens living in each other’s territories as well as on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland prior to progressing on discussions on a trade deal — an area of urgent interest for the U.K. Ms. May’s speech confirmed a post-Brexit transition period of about two years, a long-overdue announcement of special importance to the business community. She confirmed Britain would meet its financial obligations until the end of the current EU budget period, a bill of about €20 billion until 2020. She declared her intention to protect EU citizens’ rights and incorporate the rights granted by a Brexit agreement into U.K. law. She said that Britain would seek a trade relationship somewhere on the spectrum between a Norway-type agreement that involves the free movement of people, and a Canada-type free trade agreement. Yet, this is easier said than done, and she gave no details. While the speech was received with cautious optimism by the EU, it has failed to move talks forward, partly owing to a lack of clarity on the financial payments after 2020 and on citizens’ rights. Ms. May’s attempt to be too many things to too many people has meant a deepening of the confusion around Brexit. What is needed now, more than ever, is for her government to speak with clarity.

IMPORTANT WORDS FROM ARTICLE & THEIR MEANING

1) Exhortation (noun)   –(प्रोत्साहन,समझाना) -  exhor-ta-shunMeaning -   an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.
Synonyms - urging, encouragement, persuasion.
Antonyms - discourage , compulsion ,inhibition
Example - A good leader believes in the exhortation of people to achieve their own forms of greatness rather than try to force them on a certain path.

2) Renaissance (noun)  (पुनर्जागरण ) -  re-nai-essenceMeaning - a renewed interest or rebirth of something
Synonyms -  rebirth, revival, renewal.
Antonyms - deterioration, end
Example - The creation of the Internet brought about a renaissance in communication.

3) Chaotic (adjective) – (अव्यवस्थित,अराजक)  -  key-ot-ik
Meaning -  disordered,  hectic
Synonyms - messy, confused, in disorder/disorganized.
Antonyms - arranged, proper, well-organized
Example - A confusing and chaotic scene took place in the mall when a kid wandered off from his mother.

4) Rekindle (verb)   (फिर रोशन करना)  -  ree-kin-dl
Meaning - revive (something lost or lapsed).
Synonyms-  revive, renew, restore.
Antonyms -  dampen, decelerate
Example -  When the children came back from hostel to home , the home rekindled with happiness.

5) Contour (noun)  (रूप-रेखा) - kon-toor
Meaning - an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something.
Synonyms - outline, shape, form.
Example - The map showed the contour of the coastline.

6) Fragile (adjective) (नाज़ुक) - fra-gile
Meaning -  weak; easily damaged
Synonyms - shaky/weak, delicate, frail.
Antonyms -  Hard, tough
Example - Because the treaty between the two nations is very fragile, it may be damaged during the presidential meeting.

7) Stall (verb) ( रुकावट) - es-tall
Meaning - to stop or prevent progress or advancement
Synonyms -stop, obstruct, impede/hinder.
Antonyms - Promote, encourage 
Example - The whole point of a red light is to stall the flow of traffic by stopping all of the cars coming its way.

8) Bloc (noun) (गठबंधन) - block
Meaning - a group of countries or political parties or people with common interests who have formed an alliance.
Synonyms - alliance, association, coalition.
Example - A whole bloc of students got together to complain against the irritating monitor.

9) Rosy (adjective)   (आशाजनक) - Ro-siMeaning - promising or suggesting good fortune or happiness
Synonyms - optimistic, hopeful, favorable.
Antonyms - pale, depressing, gloomy
Example -  The strategy has produced results beyond the most rosy forecasts.

10) Ruffle feathers (phrase)  (परेशान)
Meaning - to do something to cause confusion, agitation, irritation or annoyance
Synonyms - annoy, irritate, vex/anger.
Antonyms -please, comfort, soothe
Example -He tries not to ruffle feathers, and people seem to love to work with him.

Assignment - 

A) Now try to answer the following questions based on this article :

• Concession
• Interpret
• Worrying
• Obligations