Travelling in Europe 2008.
Date: 2008-02-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: Europe, tourism, travel

TRAVELLING
IN EUROPE 

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TRAVELLING 
IN EUROPE 2008

The European Union stretches 
The 
over the continent of Europe 
ove
from Lapland in the north to 
from
the
the  Mediterranean  sea,  and 
fro
from the west coast of Ireland 
to 
to  the  shores  of  Cyprus:  a 
ric
rich  tapestry  of  landscapes 
fr
from  rocky  coastlines  to 
sa
sandy beaches, from fertile 
p
pastureland to arid plains, 
f
from  lakes  and  forests  to 
a
arctic tundra.

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The  peoples  of  Europe  with  their  diverse  tradi-
The  peoples  of  Europe
d l
i
tions,  cultures  and  languages  make  up  over  7%  of  the  world’s 
population. Their historic heritage is charted in prehistoric cave 
paintings,  Greek  and  Roman  antiquities,  Moorish  architecture, 
medieval fortresses, renaissance palaces and baroque churches. 
The modern Europe too attracts the traveller with its vibrant cit-
ies,  colourful  cultural  festivities,  winter  and  summer  sports  and 
varied cuisine.

Most tourists in the EU are from the EU.  Life has become much 
easier for the traveller in the EU with the removal of most pass-
port  and  baggage  formalities.  Fifteen  EU  countries  share  the 
same  currency,  the  euro,  which  makes  price  comparisons  easy 
and  removes  the  cost  and  inconvenience  of  changing  money. 
The  creation  of  a  single  market  now  approaching  500  million 
people has brought wider choice and lower prices. In fact most 
Europeans find it as easy to travel within the EU as to travel in 
their home country.

DOCUMENTS 
YOU WILL NEED

(cid:94) FOR EU CITIZENS

(cid:132) Passport or identity card
There are no longer any frontier controls at the borders between 
22  EU  countries.  This  is  thanks  to  the  Schengen  Agreement 
which is part of EU law. The Schengen rules remove all internal 
border controls but put in place effective controls at the external 
borders of the EU and introduce a common visa policy. The full 
Schengen  members  are  Austria,  Belgium,  the  Czech  Republic, 
Denmark,  Estonia,  Finland,  France,  Germany,  Greece,  Hungary, 
Italy,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Luxembourg,  Malta,  the  Netherlands, 
Poland,  Portugal,  Slovakia,  Slovenia,  Spain,  Sweden  (but  not 
Ireland  and  the  United  Kingdom)  plus  Iceland  and  Norway 
(which are not EU members).

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, and Bulgaria and Romania, 
which joined in 2007, do not yet fully participate in Schengen. 
You will therefore need a valid passport or ID card to travel to 
those countries and to Ireland and the United Kingdom.

When entering or leaving the EU at the external borders you will 
need a valid passport or an ID card. 

It is best to have your passport or ID card when travelling in the 
EU because you may be required to prove your identity. If public 
order or national security so require, checks at the internal bor-
ders may be carried out for limited periods.

Make sure that any children travelling with you either have their 
own passport or ID card or are registered on your passport.

Agreements with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland 
enable their nationals to be treated in the same way as EU citi-
zens and to travel with just an ID card or passport in the EU.

(cid:132) Visa
You will not need a visa for travelling within the EU.

(cid:94) FOR NON-EU CITIZENS

(cid:132) Passport
You will need a valid passport.

(cid:132) Visa

There are 28 countries whose nationals do not need a visa to visit 
the  EU  for  three  months  or  less.  These  include  Croatia  (but  not 
Turkey,  both  candidates  for  EU  membership)  as  well  as  Australia, 
Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. The list of coun-
tries whose nationals require visas to travel to the United Kingdom 
or Ireland differs slightly from other EU countries. If in doubt, check 
with the nearest consulate of any EU country.

If  your  visa  is  from  a  country  fully  applying  the  Schengen  rules,  it 
automatically allows you to travel to the other Schengen countries 
as well. Moreover, if you have a valid residence permit from one of 
those Schengen countries, it is equivalent to a visa. You may need a 
national visa to visit non-Schengen countries. 

European Union

TRAVELLING
IN EUROPE 
Europe:  a continent with thousands of years of 
history, a rich cultural heritage and some of the world’s 
most breathtaking scenery. So much for the traveller to 
discover and explore and all made much easier thanks to 
the European Union (EU).
You can cross many borders within the EU without being 
checked and the euro makes it easier to shop around for 
bargains. You have easy access to healthcare should you 
need it and pets no longer have to be left at home. If 
you drive, your driving licence and motor insurance policy 
issued in one EU country are valid in all the others. And 
you can use your mobile phone everywhere.
For more information, helpful tips and a map of Europe, 

see inside. 

This Travelling in Europe 2008 leaflet 
is also published on the internet in an 
extended version, which provides links 
to more detailed information on the 
subjects covered: 
europa.eu/abc/travel

Y
You can find this leaflet and other short, 
clear explanations about the EU online 
at
at ec.europa.eu/publications 

European Commission
Eu
Directorate-General for Communication
D
Publications
Pu
B
B-1049 Brussels

M
Manuscript completed in December 2007
©
© European Communities, 2008
R
Reproduction is authorised.

Cover illustrations: © Image Select, © Corbis,
C
© Van Parys Media
©

ISBN 978-92-79-07152-2

9 789279

071522

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MONEY

SHOPPING

BY ROAD

BY RAIL

(cid:132) The euro
The euro is the legal tender for more than 315 million people in 
15 EU countries. The symbol for the euro is €. 

EU  countries  using  the  euro  from  January  2008:  Austria,  Belgium,  Cyprus,  Finland,  France,  Germany,  Greece,  Ireland,  Italy, 
Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

EU countries not using the euro.

The  euro  notes  are  identical  in  all 
countries  but  each  country  issues 
its  own  coins  with  one  common 
side  and  one  side  displaying  a 
distinctive  national  emblem.  All 
the  notes  and  coins  can  be  used 
in  all  EU  countries  that  have 
adopted 
including 
the  euro, 
many  of  their  overseas  entities, 
such  as  the  Azores,  the  Canary 
Islands,  Ceuta-Melilla,  French 
Guiana,  Guadeloupe,  Madeira, 
Martinique,  Mayotte,  Réunion, 
and Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

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n City have
Monaco,  San  Marino  and  Vatican  City  have 
adopted the euro as their national currency, which also gives them 
the  right  to  issue  a  certain  number  of  euro  coins  with  their  own 
national sides. A number of countries and territories use the euro as 
their de facto currency such as Andorra, Kosovo and Montenegro. 

Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom do not currently use 
the euro. Cyprus and Malta joined the euro area in January 2008 
and  the  nine  other  countries  that  have  entered  the  EU  since 
2004 are committed to adopting the euro when they are ready.

(cid:132) Exchange rates

Rates will vary, but in January 2008 one euro bought approxi-
mately:

BG  Bulgarian lev 
CZ  Czech koruna 
DK  Danish krone 
EST  Estonian kroon 
GB  British pound sterling 
Hungarian forint 
H 
Lithuanian litas 
LT 
Latvian lats 
LV 
Polish zloty 
PL 
RO  Romanian leu 
Swedish krona 
S 
Slovak koruna 
SK 
CN  Chinese renminbi-yuan   
Indian rupee 
IND 
Japanese yen 
JP 
RU  Russian rouble 
USA  US dollar 

1.95
26.8

7.45
16

0.69

251

3.45
0.70
3.63
3.34
9.17
33
10.7
56.6

 165

35.5

1.44

In European countries outside the euro area, many hotels, shops and 
restaurants, particularly in tourist areas, accept payment in euro as 
well as the national currency, although they are not legally obliged 
to do so.

(cid:132) Postage stamps
Postage stamps can only be used in the country in which you buy 
them, even when priced in euro.

(cid:132) Withdrawing money
Thanks to EU rules, withdrawing euro from a cash machine, mak-
ing a card payment or a bank transfer in euro (up to € 50 000) 
now costs you the same anywhere in the EU as it would cost you 
in  your  own  country.  These  rules  also  apply  to  transactions  on 
euro accounts in countries outside the euro area.

(cid:94) WITHIN THE EU

There  are  no  limits  on  what  you  can  buy  and 
nd 
EU 
take  with  you  when  you  travel  between  EU 
d 
countries, as long as it is for personal use and 
) 
not for resale. Taxes (VAT and excise duties) 
are  included  in  the  price  you  pay  and  no 
further  payment  of  tax  can  be  due  in  any 
other EU country.

(cid:132) Tobacco and alcohol
To determine whether tobacco and alco-
hol  are  for  personal  use,  each  country 
can set guide levels. In other words, if 
you 
you carry a larger quantity of these goods, you 
ded for personal
may be asked to prove that they are intended for personal 
use  and  to  justify  their  purchase.  The  guide  levels  may  not  be 
lower than:

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800 cigarettes
4
400 cigarillos
2
200 cigars
1 kg of tobacco
10 litres of spirits
20 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry)
90 litres of wine (of which, a maximum of 60 litres 
of sparkling wine)
110 litres of beer

For a limited period, some countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, 
Finland,  France,  Germany,  Ireland,  Sweden  and  the  United 
Kingdom)  are  maintaining  limits  on  cigarettes  brought  back 
from  six  of  the  countries  that  joined  the  EU  in  2004  (Estonia, 
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia). Some countries 
(Denmark,  Germany,  Hungary,  Sweden  and  the  UK)  are  also 
restricting  travellers  from  Bulgaria  and  Romania  to  200  ciga-
rettes until the end of 2009.

(cid:94) COMING FROM OUTSIDE

If you enter the EU from outside, you can bring with you goods 
free of VAT and excise duties for personal use within the limits 
set  out  below.  The  same  applies  if  you  come  from  the  Canary 
Islands, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or other territories where 
EU rules on VAT and excise do not apply.

Tobacco products
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or
• 50 cigars or
• 250 grams of tobacco
Alcoholic drinks
• 1 litre of spirits over 22%  vol. or
• 2 litres of fortified or sparkling wine
• 2 litres of still wine
Perfume
• 50 grams
Eau de toilette
• 250 ml
Other goods
Up to a value of € 175. Some member states apply a 
lower limit of € 90 for travellers under 15.

(cid:94) CONSUMER PROTECTION

As a consumer, you are protected by basic laws no matter where 
you are in the EU.
•  EU laws on food labelling enable you to check what you are 
buying. Look for details of ingredients, including genetically 
modified  ingredients,  colourings,  preservatives,  sweeteners 
and  other  chemical  additives.  There  are  regulations  about 
what products can be called ‘organic’ and new rules on the 
use of nutrition and health claims on foods. 

•  The unit price of products — the price per kilo or per litre — 
must be given by supermarkets to make it easier to compare 
prices.

•  Cosmetic  products  have  to  indicate  how  long  they  can 
be  used  after  opening.  Look  out  for  the  open  jar  symbol. 
Sunscreen products must have additional information about 
their  correct  use  and  about  how  best  to  protect  skin  from 
the sun.

•  EU law offers protection on package holidays and timeshare 

property schemes.

(cid:94) LOOK FOR THE FLOWER

Look  for  the  flower,  the  EU  eco-label,  on  everyday  consumer 
goods  from  detergents  to  shoes  and  clothes  to  help  you  find 
greener  products.  For  a  list  of  eco-labelled  products,  visit 
www.eco-label.com.  You  can  also  use  the  flower  to  find  an 
environmentally  friendly  hotel,  bed-and-breakfast,  youth 
hostel or campsite. The flower tells you that the accom-
modation  limits  its  energy  and  water  consumption, 
reduces  waste,  and  makes  use  of  renewable  energy 
sources. 

(cid:94) DRIVING LICENCE
(cid:94) D

A  valid  driving  licence  issued  in  an  EU  country  is  valid 
t
throughout the EU. In some countries, in addition to carry-
in
ing a valid driving licence, you will need to have your vehicle 
re
registration document with you.

Rem
Remember that, in most countries, the minimum age for driv-
ing 
ing  a  car  is  18.  Minimum  age  limits  for  hiring  a  car  are  not 
fixed
fixed at EU level and generally vary between 20 and 23. There 
may 
may also be maximum age limits and these can vary between 
65 an
65 and 75.

(cid:94) MOTOR INSURANCE
(cid:94) M
Where
Wherever you are travelling in the EU, your car insurance policy 
will automatically provide the minimum cover (third party liabil-
ity)  required  by  law.  This  also  applies  to  Iceland,  Norway  and 
Switzerland. If you have comprehensive insurance at home, check 
that the cover extends to travelling in other countries. 

A green card is not obligatory when travelling in the EU, but it 
serves  as  internationally  recognised  proof  of  insurance  and  it 
makes it easier to settle claims arising from an accident. If you do 
not take a green card with you, you should carry your certificate 
of insurance.

Your insurer can give you a European accident statement form, a 
standard document that makes it easier to make a declaration on 
the spot if you have an accident in another country.

EU  rules  make  it  easier  for  road  accident  victims  outside  their 
own country to get speedy compensation and for drivers to get a 
quick settlement of claims. 

(cid:94) DRIVING SAFELY

In all EU countries, seat belts must now be worn in all vehicles, 
including tourist coaches and minibuses. Children must also have 
appropriate  child  restraints  in  cars  and  lorries  and,  where  pos-
sible, in other vehicles as well. 

Remember  to  drive  on  the  left  side  of  the  road  in  Cyprus, 
Ireland,  Malta  and  the  United  Kingdom  and  remember  that  in 
some  countries,  such  as  Belgium,  France,  the  Netherlands  and 
Portugal, you normally have to give way to traffic coming from 
your right.

The speed limit on motorways is generally 110, 120 or 130 km/h 
and the limit in built-up areas is 50 or sometimes 60 km/h. Keep 
an  eye  on  the  signs  to  make  sure  of  the  exact  limits  and  any 
special conditions that apply.

Using a mobile phone while driving greatly increases the risk of 
an accident and it is either explicitly or implicitly forbidden in all 
EU countries.

The  maximum  permitted  blood  alcohol  level  varies  between 
0.2 mg/ml and 0.8 mg/ml although some countries do not allow 
any alcohol in the blood while driving.

BY AIR

Creating  a  single  European  market  in  air  transport  has  meant 
lower fares and a wider choice of carriers and services for pas-
sengers.  The  EU  has  also  created  a  set  of  rights  to  ensure  air 
passengers are treated fairly.

(cid:132) Air passenger rights
As  an  air  passenger,  you  have  certain  rights  when  it  comes  to 
information about flights and reservations, damage to baggage, 
delays  and  cancellations,  denied  boarding,  compensation  in 
the case of accident or difficulties with package holidays. These 
rights  apply  to  scheduled  and  chartered  flights,  both  domestic 
and international, from an EU airport or to an EU airport from 
one outside the EU, when operated by an EU airline. The EU also 
maintains a list of airlines banned from operating in the EU and 
using EU airports. For disabled passengers or those with reduced 
mobility, rules are being introduced by July 2008 to ensure free 
and effective assistance on aircraft and in EU airports as well as 
fair and non-discriminatory treatment. 

If you have a complaint, contact the airline or organiser of the 
package holiday. If they fail to fulfil their obligations then you 
should  complain  to  your  national  enforcement  body.  Call  the 
Europe Direct freephone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 to get details of 
the relevant authority. 

(cid:132) Security
Avoid the delay and inconvenience 
of  having  something  confiscated 
by  airport  security  by  checking 
that  you  do  not  have  any  pro-
hibited articles with you. There is 
an  agreed  EU  list  of  items  that 
are  not  allowed  in  the  cabin 
on flights from EU airports and 
a  list  of  articles  banned  from 
the  baggage  hold.  Look  out 
for these lists displayed in the 
check-in  area.  Check  also  on 
the  latest  regulations  on  car-
rying  liquids  and  on  size  of 
baggage.

The  EU  has  210  000  km  of  railways  with  extensive  international 
passenger services. There are 5 000 km of high-speed lines in sev-
eral countries with trains reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h and 
the  network  is  being  extended  with  new  links  in  Belgium,  France, 
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Huge financial support is going into trans-European projects such 
as  the  rail  links  from  Lyon  to  Poland’s  border  with  the  Ukraine, 
from Berlin to Palermo, from Paris to Bratislava and from Warsaw 
to Helsinki. 

One way to explore Europe by rail is to get an international rail pass 
and  set  off  to  discover  the  places  and  countries  that  attract  you. 
Seven European high-speed rail operators have joined forces under 
the name Railteam to make travel across the European rail network 
as seamless as possible.

STAYING HEALTHY

(cid:132) Access to healthcare
As  an  EU  national,  you  can  get  free  or  reduced-cost  healthcare 
if  you  are  suddenly  taken  ill  or  have  an  accident  during  a  tem-
porary visit to any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or 
Switzerland. Only publicly funded health treatment is included in 
this scheme and each country has its own rules for public medical 
provision.  In  some,  treatment  is 
free
free, in some you pay part of the 
cost
cost, in others you have to pay the 
full
full cost and then claim a refund. 
So 
So  keep  all  your  bills,  prescrip-
tio
tions and receipts.

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A 
A  European  health  insurance 
ca
card  has  now  been  introduced 
to
to  facilitate  access  to  publicly 
fu
funded  healthcare  in  the  EU 
a
and to speed up the reimburse-
m
ment of costs. Over 150 million 
E
EU citizens are already carrying 
t
the  card.  Some  countries  are 
i
incorporating  the  European 
card on the reverse side of a
card  on  the  reverse  side  of  a  national  card  and  others  are 
issuing separate cards. Get your card from your local social secu-
rity or sickness insurance office.
(cid:132) Medicines
Take  your  prescription  with  you  if  you  are  carrying  prescribed 
medicines. Do not exceed the quantities needed for your personal 
use during your trip, as large quantities of drugs can create sus-
picion.
(cid:132) Travel insurance
You may want to take out travel insurance, since only some EU 
countries pay the full cost of medical treatment. Illness or an acci-
dent abroad may mean extra travel, accommodation and repatria-
tion costs, for which you may want to be insured.
(cid:132) Immunisation
There are, in general, no immunisation requirements when travel-
ling in the EU. However, there are requirements or recommenda-
tions for certain of the EU’s overseas territories. Check with your 
doctor before you go.
(cid:132) Bathing water
Strict standards are set for bathing water throughout the EU. An 
annual  European  Commission  report  gives  useful  water  quality 
information for holiday-makers on both coastal and inland waters 
across the EU. New EU rules are introducing more sophisticated 
monitoring  and  classification  of  bathing  water  as  well  as  better 
public information. 

If  you  see  a  Blue  Flag  on  a  beach  or  at  a  marina,  you  can  be 
assured  that  it  has  reached  specific  standards  on  water  quality, 
safety,  services,  environmental  management  and  information. 
Over 2 800 beaches and marinas in the EU were awarded a Blue 
Flag in 2007. This voluntary scheme is run by the Foundation for 
Environmental Education.

THINGS TO DO

The  enlargement  of  the  EU,  the  greater  mobility 
of its population and new trade ties have led to 
more  contact  between  cultures,  religions,  and 
ethnic and language groups. Against this mul-
ticultural backdrop, 2008 has been designated 
European  Year  of  Intercultural  Dialogue  to 
p
promote  cultural  diversity  and  reinforce 
s
solidarity across the EU. 

other  cultural 
T
The  EU  supports  and  contributes  to  many  other  cultural 
p
projects  and  events  across  Europe  every  year.  One  of  these  is 
to
to  designate  a  cultural  capital  of  Europe.  Liverpool  in  the  UK 
an
and  Stavanger  in  Norway  share  the  title  in  2008.  Liverpool’s 
pro
programme  has  many  highlights,  including  concerts,  exhibitions, 
fest
festivals  and  premieres  across  all  cultural  genres.  Stavanger  has 
pro
projects in architecture, film, cultural heritage, music, literature, and 
the 
the visual and performing arts.

Euro
Europe’s calendar is crowded with festivals, performances and exhi-
bitio
bitions of music, art, theatre, dance, film and sport. Don’t forget the 
Euro
Euro 2008 football tournament with the first match in Switzerland 
on 7 June and the final match in Austria on 29 June 2008. 
on 7

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CHOOSING A TIME 
TO TRAVEL

(cid:132) Weather
Europe’s weather is generally temperate. This table shows aver-
age minimum January temperatures and average maximum July 
temperatures in the capitals of the EU countries.

Average min.  Average max.

 January 
ºC 
– 4 
– 1 
– 4 
5 
– 5 
– 3 
– 2 
2 
– 10 
1 
– 9 
2 
6 
– 4 
5 
1 
– 1 
– 11 
– 10 
10 
– 1 
8 
– 6 
– 7 
– 5 
– 3 
– 4 

Vienna 
Brussels 
Sofia 
Nicosia 
Prague 
Berlin 
Copenhagen 
Madrid 
Tallinn 
Paris 
Helsinki 
London 
Athens 
Budapest 
Rome 
Dublin 
Luxembourg 
Vilnius 
Riga 
Valletta 
Amsterdam 
Lisbon 
Warsaw 
Bucharest 
Stockholm 
Bratislava 
Ljubljana 

A 
B 
BG 
CY 
CZ 
D 
DK 
E 
EST 
F 
FIN 
GB 
GR 
H 
I 
IRL 
L 
LT 
LV 
M 
NL 
P 
PL 
RO 
S 
SK 
SLO 

(cid:132) Time zones

July 
ºC
25
23
27
37
23
24
22
31
20
25
22
22
33
28
30
20
23
23
22
29
22
27
24
30
22
26
27

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(cid:132) Summer time
Daylight  saving  time  begins  across  the  EU  on  30  March  2008 
when  clocks  are  moved  forward  an  hour  and  it  ends  on  26 
October 2008 when clocks are put back an hour. The dates for 
2009 are 29 March and 25 October.

PETS

Travelling with a cat or dog is now much easier with the new EU 
pet passport available from any vet. All cats and dogs must have 
a  passport  containing  details  of  a  valid  rabies  vaccination.  Until 
July 2008, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom also 
require  proof  that  the  vaccination  has  been  effective.  Check  for 
requirements after that date.

In addition, treatment for ticks and tapeworm is required for entry 
into Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. Finland and Sweden 
require
require a tapeworm treatment.

An animal has to be identified by an electronic microchip. 
A
A clearly readable tattoo is also acceptable until July 2011, 
e
except if you are taking your animal to Ireland, Malta and the 
U
United Kingdom where a microchip is already required.

IF THINGS GO WRONG

(cid:132) Single European emergency number: 112
(cid:132) Si
To contact the emergency services in any EU country (except Bulgaria 
To cont
for the moment) from any phone, fixed or mobile, dial 112.
(cid:132) Loss or theft
Report  any  theft  to  the  local  police.  You  will  need  to  enclose 
the police report when making your insurance or compensation 
claim. Cancel any lost or stolen credit cards immediately. If your 
passport  has  been  stolen,  report  it  to  your  country’s  consulate 
or  embassy  as  well  as  to  the  police.  Remember  that  if  you  are 
outside the EU you can get help from the consulate or embassy 
of any other EU country if yours is not represented.

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1/02/08   12:03:05
1/02/08   12:03:05

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMMUNICATING

TOURIST INFORMATION

(cid:132) Languages
Europe  is  rich  in  languages.  The  main  language  families  in  the 
EU  include  Germanic,  Romance,  Slav,  Baltic  and  Celtic.  The  EU 
institutions have 23 official languages but there are many other 
lesser-spoken ones.

Many Europeans speak at least one other language as well as their 
mother tongue but, during your travels in Europe, try using a few 
phrases of the local language when talking to local people. Start 
with a good morning:

For  further  information  on  any  EU  country  you  are  thinking  of 
visiting,  here  are  the  websites  of  their  official  national  tourist 
organisations.

Bulgarian  Dobro utro
Bul
Dobré ráno
Czech 
God morgen
Danish 
Goedemorgen
Dutch 
Good morning
English 
Estonian  Tere hommikust
Hyvää huomenta
Finnish 
Bonjour
French 
German  Guten Morgen
Kalimera
Greek 
Hungarian  Jó reggelt
Dia dhuit
Irish 

Buongiorno
Labrīt

L-Għodwa t-Tajba
Dzień dobry

Italian 
Latvian 
Lithuanian  Labas rytas
Maltese 
Polish 
Portuguese  Bom dia
Romanian  Bună dimineaţa
Slovak 
Slovene 
Spanish 
Swedish 

Dobré ráno
Dobro jutro
Buenos días
God morgon

(cid:132) Mobile phones
You  can  use  your  mobile 
phone  anywhere  in  Europe 
and  in  many  other  parts 
of  the  world  thanks  to  the 
EU’s  GSM  technical  stand-
ard.  Before  travelling,  check 
with  your  network  provider 
that  your  phone  is  enabled 
for  international  roaming. 
Using  your  mobile  phone 
while  abroad  has  become  sub-
stantially  cheaper  thanks  to  a  new  EU  regulation  which  sets 
limits or ‘Eurotariffs’ on international roaming rates.

hi h

EU

l

i

a
i
d
e
M
s
y
r
a
P
n
a
V
©

A 
B 

Austria 
Belgium 

Bulgaria 
Cyprus 

(cid:196)  www.austria.info
(cid:196)  www.visitflanders.com
www.opt.be
(cid:196)  www.bulgariatravel.org
(cid:196)  www.visitcyprus.org.cy
Czech Republic  (cid:196)  www.czechtourism.com
(cid:196)  www.germany-tourism.de
(cid:196)  www.visitdenmark.com
Germany 
Denmark 
(cid:196)  www.spain.info
(cid:196)  www.visitestonia.com
Spain 
(cid:196)  www.franceguide.com
Estonia 
(cid:196)  www.visitfinland.com
France 
United Kingdom  (cid:196)  www.visitbritain.com
Finland 
(cid:196)  www.visitgreece.gr
(cid:196)  www.hungary.com
Greece 
Hungary 
(cid:196)  www.enit.it
(cid:196)  www.discoverireland.com
Italy 
Luxembourg  (cid:196)  www.visitluxembourg.lu
Ireland 
(cid:196)  www.travel.lt
(cid:196)  www.latviatourism.lv
Lithuania 
(cid:196)  www.visitmalta.com
Latvia 
Netherlands  (cid:196)  www.holland.com
Malta 
(cid:196)  www.visitportugal.com
(cid:196)  www.poland.travel
Portugal 
(cid:196)  www.romaniatourism.com
Poland 
(cid:196)  www.visitsweden.com
Romania 
(cid:196)  www.slovakiatourism.sk
Sweden 
(cid:196)  www.slovenia.info 
Slovakia 
Slovenia 

BG 
CY 
CZ 
D 
DK 
E 
EST 
F 
FIN 
GB 
GR 
H 
I 
IRL 
L 
LT 
LV 
M 
NL 
P 
PL 
RO 
S 
SK 
SLO 

Average charge
summer 2006 

Summer 2008  Summer 2009

Mobile calls 
made abroad 

Mobile calls 
received abroad 

110 cents 

46 cents 

43 cents

58 cents 

22 cents 

19 cents

Eurotariff maximum per minute roaming charge in euro 
(without VAT)

Operators  are  free  to  offer  cheaper  rates  so  look  out  for  better 
deals.  You  are  also  entitled  to  receive  information  on  roaming 
prices when you travel in the EU. Your operator must send you by 
SMS basic roaming price information and must also provide you 
with a contact number where you can get more information.

An EU website (ec.europa.eu/roaming) lists the Eurotariff offered by 
operators in all 27 EU countries and has links to their websites.

(cid:132) Telephone
There  is  just  one  prefix  for  making  international  telephone  calls 
anywhere in the EU. It is 00.

y
The country codes are:

43
Austria 
A 
A
32
Belgium 
B 
359
BG  Bulgaria 
357
CY  Cyprus 
CZ  Czech Republic  420
49
Germany 
D 
45
DK  Denmark 
34
Spain 
E 
372
EST  Estonia 
33
France 
F 
358
FIN  Finland 
GB  United Kingdom  44
30
GR  Greece 
36
H 

Hungary 

Italy 
I 
Ireland 
IRL 
Luxembourg 
L 
Lithuania 
LT 
Latvia 
LV 
M  Malta 
NL  Netherlands 
Portugal 
P 
PL  Poland 
RO  Romania 
Sweden 
S 
SK  Slovakia 
SLO  Slovenia 

39
353
352
370
371
356
31
351
48
40
46
421
386

(cid:132) The internet
Internet  access  is  available  at  internet  cafes  and  in  many  hotels 
which have internet plug sockets in the rooms. Wi-Fi wireless net-
works can be used at airports, railway stations, hotels and other 
locations.  Wi-Fi  zones  (hotspots)  are  usually  clearly  indicated. 
There is often a charge for access and your PC will need to be fitted 
with a wireless network card.

(cid:132) Electricity
All Europe has 220–240 volt, 50 cycle alternating current. Cyprus, 
Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom have square three-pin plugs 
but,  in  general,  all  other  EU  countries  have  two-pin  plugs.  These 
may  vary  but  you  should  be  able  to  use  your  appliances,  such  as 
hairdryers and shavers, anywhere. Adaptors can usually be bought 
in airports and tourist resorts.

The  abbreviations  for  countries  are  those  used  on  nationality 
plates on cars.

Other information on the 
European Union

Go online
Information in all the official languages of the European 
Union is available on the Europa website: europa.eu

Visit us
All over Europe there are hundreds of local EU information 
centres. You can find the address of the centre nearest you 
on this website: europedirect.europa.eu

Call or write to us
Europe Direct is a service which answers your questions 
about the European Union. You can contact this service by 
freephone: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11, or by payphone from 
outside the EU: (32-2) 299 96 96, or by electronic mail via 
europedirect.europa.eu

Read about Europe
Publications about the EU are only a click away on the EU 
Bookshop website: bookshop.europa.eu 

You can also obtain information and booklets in English about the 
European Union from:

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
OFFICES

(cid:132) Office in Ireland
European Union House
43 Molesworth Street
Dublin 2
Tel. (353-1) 605 79 00 
Fax (353-1) 605 79 99
Internet: www.europarl.ie
E-mail: epdublin@europarl.europa.eu

(cid:132) United Kingdom Office
2 Queen Anne’s Gate
London SW1H 9AA
Tel. (44-20) 72 27 43 00
Fax (44-20) 72 27 43 02
Internet: www.europarl.org.uk
E-mail: eplondon@europarl.europa.eu

(cid:132) Office in Scotland
The Tun
4 Jackson’s Entry
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
Tel. (44-131) 557 78 66
Fax (44-131) 557 49 77
Internet: www.europarl.org.uk
E-mail: epedinburgh@europarl.europa.eu

There are European Commission and Parliament 
representations and offices in all the countries of 
the European Union. The European Commission 
also has delegations in other parts of the world.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
REPRESENTATIONS

(cid:132) Representation in Ireland
18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Tel. (353-1) 634 11 11
Fax (353-1) 634 11 12
Internet: ec.europa.eu/ireland/welcome/index_en.htm
E-mail: eu-ie-info-request@ec.europa.eu
(cid:132) Representation in the United Kingdom
8 Storey’s Gate, London SW1P 3AT
Tel. (44-20) 79 73 19 92
Fax (44-20) 79 73 19 00/10
Internet: www.ec.europa.eu/uk

(cid:132) Representation in Wales
2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way 
Cardiff CF10 4QQ
Tel. (44-29) 20 89 50 20
Fax (44-29) 20 89 50 35
Internet: www.ec.europa.eu/uk

(cid:132) Representation in Scotland

9 Alva Street, Edinburgh EH2 4PH
Tel. (44-131) 225 20 58
Fax (44-131) 226 41 05
Internet: www.ec.europa.eu/uk

(cid:132) Representation in Northern Ireland
Windsor House, 9/15 Bedford Street
Belfast BT2 7EG
Tel. (44-28) 90 24 07 08
Fax (44-28) 90 24 82 41
Internet: www.ec.europa.eu/uk

(cid:132) Information services in the United States
2300 M Street, NW — 3rd floor
Washington DC 20037
Tel. (202) 862 95 00
Fax (202) 429 17 66
Internet: www.eurunion.org

222 East 41st Street, 20th floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel. (212) 371 38 04
Fax (212) 688 10 13
Internet: www.eurunion.org

European Union member states

Europe in the world

Candidate countries

Poranesna Jugoslovenska
Republika Makedonija
The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia

The 27
European Union
countries together

China

Russia

 express wealth. PPS, purchasing 
 The value of 1 PPS unit corresponds 

EU member state

Candidate country

Published December 2007 by 
European Commission 
Directorate General for Communication 
Publications
B-1049 Brussels

Office for Official Publications of the 
European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
bookshop.europa.eu

Map originally created by Lovell Johns, 
www.lovelljohns.com

©  European Communities, 2007

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