By 2006, the OECD reports that the average tax burden for EU-15 nations had climbed to 39.8% of GDP.

到2006年，OECD的报告指出欧盟15国的平均税率已经攀升到了GDP的39.8%。

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The EU-15 still get less work out of their population than America does (733 hours per person per year against America’s 913).

欧盟15国人均工作时间为733小时/人/年，低于美国的913小时/人/年。

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From 1990 to 2008 the combined GDP of the EU-15 (the 15 members of the EU prior to its 2004 enlargement) grew by about 2% a year on average.

1990到2008年，欧盟15国(2004年欧盟扩展之前的15个成员国)的联合gdp年均增长2%。

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Russia and the 15-nation EU are expected to issue a joint declaration on terrorism after their summit, at which energy and economic cooperation is also on the agenda.

CNN: Putin urges global terrorism fight

The ministers from the 15-member EU - who are trying to agree their common immigration policy - asked the European Commission to come up with concrete proposals for financing both voluntary and forced repatriation.

BBC: EU backs action on illegal migrants

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, whose country holds the presidency of the 15-nation EU, said that Sunday's strikes were not aimed at the Arab or Muslim worlds and stressed the urgency of humanitarian aid for the Afghan people and Afghan refugees.

CNN: Europe rallies behind attacks