1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,120 EU leaders adopted a reform treaty in October to make the Union more efficient and more 2 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:17,680 democratic. The present rules, originally put in place for a community of six countries, 3 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:24,680 needed updating when the EU grew to 25 and then 27 members. The treaty puts the EU on 4 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:31,280 a new footing to tackle issues like climate change, energy supplies, immigration and the 5 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:38,040 Union's place in the world. The reform treaty has to be ratified by all 27 countries before 6 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:45,440 it takes effect. 7 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:53,080 More than 3.5 million jobs were created in the European Union in 2007. This was partly 8 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:59,480 due to robust economic growth and price stability helped by a strong euro. The best economic 9 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:05,240 performances were recorded by countries which have joined the EU since 2004, bringing more 10 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:10,920 local jobs and creating demand for products from other European countries as well. The 11 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:16,080 single currency helps stability by removing the cost of operating in more than one currency 12 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:22,120 and by eliminating differences in interest rates. Two more countries, Cyprus and Malta, 13 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:27,440 adopt the euro in January 2008. 14 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:33,280 The EU launched an ambitious plan in 2007 to cut its own emissions of carbon dioxide 15 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,520 and take the lead in the global fight to halt climate change. The consequences of climate 16 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:44,560 change include melting ice caps, rising sea levels, droughts in some places and flooding 17 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:50,520 and storms in others. The centrepiece of the EU's climate and energy strategy is a pledge 18 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:56,960 to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to 30% below 1990 levels 19 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:05,520 by 2020, provided other developed countries do the same. 20 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:10,560 Most of us take passport-free travel within Europe for granted. This right now applies 21 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:16,920 to citizens of the countries that joined the EU in 2004. This highly symbolic act removes 22 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,920 most remaining east-west border checks in Europe. The rules don't apply yet to Bulgaria 23 00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:29,080 and Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, or to Cyprus. The frontier controls were removed 24 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,840 just before Christmas to make holiday travel easier, especially for those working in another 25 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:40,400 EU country. The new rules cover travel by land and sea. Border checks at airports disappear 26 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:45,320 in March 2008. 27 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:50,360 Next to the EU, the cost of using your mobile phone when travelling abroad fell dramatically 28 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:57,980 in 2007. The cost of making a call while roaming in another EU country fell from an average 29 00:02:57,980 --> 00:03:06,480 price of €1.10 a minute to €0.49. The price for receiving a call dropped from €0.58 30 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:11,480 to €0.24. The European Commission drive to cut roaming rates was one of its highest 31 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,800 profile and most popular initiatives. Within two months, more than half the EU's mobile 32 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:24,480 subscribers had signed up for the new rates. The rest followed two months later. More countries 33 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:30,520 around the world want the EU to send teams of observers to monitor their elections. EU 34 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:37,480 election monitors were sent to nine countries in 2007. Promoting democracy is a cornerstone 35 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:43,280 of EU foreign policy, and election monitors help project the EU's soft power around the 36 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:49,560 globe. The EU teams are seen as independent and neutral, and their very presence helps 37 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:55,240 strengthen local voter confidence in the electoral process. More than a thousand citizens from 38 00:03:55,240 --> 00:04:02,240 all 27 member countries took part in election monitoring missions in 2007. 39 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:09,240 Households across the European Union can now choose their electricity and gas supplier. 40 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:14,240 Under a new law, you can shop around to get the best price and supply conditions from 41 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:21,240 your current supplier or a newcomer who's entered your home market. Consumer choice 42 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:26,240 and the ending of monopoly suppliers of gas and electricity has been a long-standing EU 43 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:35,240 priority. Every country has a regulator whose job it is to ensure that suppliers operate 44 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:43,240 correctly and provide the services promised to their customers. Under a new deal signed 45 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:48,240 this year, European airlines will be able to fly passengers to and from any destination 46 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:55,240 in the United States and any destination in Europe. Under this so-called open skies agreement, 47 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:02,240 airlines will be able to set their own prices free from government control. The result is 48 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:09,240 expected to be more choice and cheaper fares for travellers. Similar liberalisation of 49 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:15,240 air travel in Europe in recent years has created many new routes and brought prices down as 50 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:20,240 national airlines have competed with low-cost carriers. 51 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:28,240 Experts at the World Health Organisation say that only in two EU countries, Italy and 52 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:35,240 Greece, do people eat enough fruit and vegetables. Now the EU is doing its bit to encourage the 53 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:43,240 rest of us to follow a more healthy diet. As part of a new programme to improve the 54 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:49,240 production and marketing of fruit and vegetables, it provides incentives for more organic foods 55 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:54,240 grown without artificial or chemical inputs. Another part of the programme funds projects 56 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:59,240 to encourage children and young people to eat more fruit and vegetables. 57 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:09,240 The EU is keen to safeguard consumer interests in high-tech sectors. This was confirmed in 58 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:15,240 a landmark case in 2007 involving computer giant Microsoft. In September, judges at the 59 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:22,240 European Court in Luxembourg upheld a decision by the European Commission in 2004 that Microsoft 60 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:28,240 abused its near monopoly for PC operating systems by preventing data exchange with its 61 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:33,240 competitors and bundling products together to limit consumer choice.