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Chemicals are everywhere in the lives of Europeans, in industrial processing, construction materials,

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agriculture, or in everyday items such as paints, sprays, cleaning products or motor oils.

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Tough new EU rules now ensure that chemicals are safe for consumers and the environment.

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The end of 2008 is the deadline for pre-registering all the chemicals that companies produce, import or use.

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The new regime, known as REACH, for the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals,

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puts the onus on companies which have to show that their products are safe.

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Europe's citizens can now be confident that chemicals in Europe are fully controlled.

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As financial markets around the world crashed, the European Union brought together its member states and institutions to find a joint response to the crisis.

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Special crisis summits of EU leaders helped forge a common program.

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Working in unison, EU governments pumped more than 2 trillion euros into coordinated rescue efforts.

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They supported banks. They provided guarantees for lending.

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They raised protection levels for people's savings accounts to a minimum of 50,000 euros.

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They maintained a flow of affordable credit for businesses and households.

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And the euro provided an anchor for Europe amid the turmoil.

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The problem also demanded global solutions and the EU was central to discussions on international action in New York, Camp David or Beijing.

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This is a global financial crisis that requires global solutions.

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There are more and more temporary agency workers in the EU, in construction, manufacturing and services.

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But their rights have often been neglected by employers.

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They receive less pay or fewer holidays or no maternity leave.

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This year, the EU has given them similar rights to permanent employees.

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Temporary workers supplied through agencies will now get equal treatment, normally from the day they start their assignments.

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The EU approach will give them the same rest periods and training opportunities and access to canteens, creches or transport services.

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Toys are not playthings when it comes to safety.

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This year, the EU started modernizing its 20-year-old rules on toys.

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New controls on the materials used in toys will ban cancer-causing chemicals and reduce the content of harmful substances such as lead or mercury.

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Safety information will also have to be supplied with toys carrying any risk.

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Already, toys containing tiny magnets are now required to carry labels, warning against the risk of swallowing them.

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And the EU has insisted that safety must be central to the culture of toy manufacturing.

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A message directed particularly at China, where so many of the toys in the EU come from.

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People with reduced mobility will no longer have to suffer discrimination when they fly.

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From this year, the disabled and the elderly have easier access to air transport.

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The EU now demands the same access for them as all the other passengers enjoy, and at no additional cost.

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European airports have to provide services all the way to and from the boarding gate.

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The long distances passengers often have to walk in modern airports have been a handicap to more than 25% of Europe's citizens.

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Airlines flying from EU airports have to allow disabled passengers to board the plane with their guide dogs or other necessary equipment.

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The new rules respond to the needs of a growing section of Europe's population.

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In 2008, the EU intervened to support stability, deliver humanitarian and reconstruction aid, undertake peace monitoring missions, and observe elections around the world.

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Its expert teams worked in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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In Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, Angola, and Ecuador, they worked alongside governments and non-governmental organizations to help ensure free and fair elections.

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This on-the-spot EU input helps ensure that elections are transparent and efficiently prepared, reducing intimidation, electoral fraud, or media bias.

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So voters can participate in confidence, and countries can take further steps towards greater stability.

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Global warming has to be tackled, but no one wants to stifle the economy or to reduce the quality of life.

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The EU's climate change policy brings a new answer. It targets harmful emissions, but maintains supplies of energy.

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By 2020, it will cut greenhouse gases by 20%, save 20% of energy through greater efficiency, and meet 20% of its needs from renewable energy.

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This can be done without sacrificing growth.

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EU employment and exports are rising fast in sectors like renewable energy or high technology transport.

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In this way, Europe is showing the lead, keeping the lights on without risking the planet's health.

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Eating habits are formed early in life.

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That's why the EU has expanded its scheme providing milk to school children.

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In primary and secondary schools across Europe, children can enjoy subsidized milk, yogurt, or cheese.

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A daily dose of calcium and minerals not only provides an immediate health boost, it also gives children a taste for a wider range of dairy products, and promotes a healthy diet.

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It is just one of the many ways the EU encourages healthy lifestyles.

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Through food, consumer behavior, sport, and education.

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Greenpeace!

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It is quite literally all hands to the pump when major fires strike in Europe.

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EU countries are now routinely pooling their resources to ensure a better response.

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A new coordination mechanism allows them to share men and equipment in the face of natural and man-made disasters.

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Fighting forest fires has been a key focus in 2008, with pilot projects and training exercises to combat this increasingly common summer challenge.

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I am convinced that...

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Cooperation between EU countries also improves protection and relief for flooding, industrial chemical accidents, or marine pollution,

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and stretches across to relieve victims of earthquakes in China and Kyrgyzstan, or of Haiti's hurricane and Myanmar's cyclone.

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Have you ever wondered where all the EU funding goes?

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Now you can find out.

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The EU launched an easy-to-use information service during 2008 to allow the public to see clearly how EU funds are spent.

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This web-based database gives direct access to information on which organizations benefit from EU funding.

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The system covers all the funds managed directly by the Commission in research, education and culture, energy and transport, as well as on aid provided to non-EU countries.

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With the same objective of providing information, all EU governments are also going to publish information on payments they've made,

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under the EU's agricultural and regional policy.