What did the EU do for you?

What did the European Union do for you in 2008? This question opens the EU publication where the Commission presents a dozen of exemplary achievements that will concretely benefit Member States’ citizens in the realm of the “Common European House”. This year’s booklet (available in the 23 official languages by logging on the website http://ec.europa.eu/snapshot2008) delves into a series of issues such as the common response to the financial crisis, monitoring the use of chemicals in Europe, stepping up temporary workers’ rights along with toy – and children – safety, equal rights for passengers with reduced mobility, (the elderly, the disabled, nursing mothers etc.) and cross-border Civil Protection cooperation in coping with natural disasters. delves into a series of issues such as the common response to the financial crisis, monitoring the use of chemicals in Europe, stepping up temporary workers’ rights along with toy – and children – safety, equal rights for passengers with reduced mobility, (the elderly, the disabled, nursing mothers etc.) and cross-border Civil Protection cooperation in coping with natural disasters.These are just a few examples of efficiency that ought to be recalled when the “democratic deficit” and the “information gap” convey an image of Europe that is distant from the grass roots. Rather than with bizarre institutional or political alchemies, these two drawbacks will be overcome with the force of concreteness, by showing that Europe is good for Europeans. “The examples highlighted in the yearbook clearly show that the Union delivers positive and visible results in our daily lives as consumers, travellers and workers”, said Commission Vice President Margot Wallström. In Brussels and Strasbourg, 2008 will be recorded as the year of unforeseen events: Ireland’s “no-vote” in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which brought to a halt the institutional reform process of the entire Community; the war between Russia and Georgia that reminded many Eastern Europeans citizens of Soviet imperialism; the financial crisis and its impact on real economy, that forced member States to seek coordinated – albeit not common – response measures that led to successfully establish close contacts with the United States, and with the “newly-emerged” – mostly China and India – and emerging countries. During France’s six-month presidency important agreements and regulations were implemented as relates to non-EU migrants, “clean” energies, and climate change. Ireland was prompted to call a second popular vote on the Lisbon Treaty in upcoming months, with the assurance that the EU will continue respecting its domestic family, social, defence and fiscal policies. Thus, what does 2009 keep in store for the great Community project? Nobody has crystal-gazing faculties, not even European leaders do. However, major political events have been put on the agenda. A primary role is played by next June’s Euro-Parliament elections whose outcome will reveal whether the Union and its citizens have become mutually closer. It is expected that the projects drawn up in the past months will be implemented with coordinated efforts. Thus, it will be necessary to overcome strictly domestic and local interests to the benefit of the “common European good” in order to grant the EU – whose purpose is the erection of peace, stability, and democracy along with respect of the fundamental rights of world populations – a major role in the international scenario.