TRAVELLING IN EUROPE TRAVELLING IN EUROPE

2015-16

TRAVELLING

IN EUROPE

European Union

TRAVELLING

IN EUROPE

2015-16

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

health care should you need it and your dog or cat

can travel with you. If you drive, your driving

licence and motor insurance policy issued in one

EU country are valid in all the others. And using

your mobile phone abroad is getting much

cheaper.

For more information, helpful tips

and a map of Europe, see inside.

Order or download this leaﬂet here:

http://europa.eu/!Nc34vT

NA-04-14-849-EN-C

The European Union of 28 countries stretches

over the continent of Europe from Lapland in the north

to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the west coast

of Ireland to the shores of Cyprus: a rich tapestry of

landscapes from rocky coastlines to sandy beaches, from

fertile pastureland to arid plains, from lakes and forests

to arctic tundra.

The peoples of Europe with their diverse traditions,

cultures and languages make up around 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 cities, colourful

cultural festivities, winter and summer sports, and varied

cuisine.

Europeans love to travel and the removal of most

passport and baggage formalities has made travelling

much easier. Nineteen 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 of more than

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 within their home country.

TRAVELLING

IN EUROPE

2015-16

TRAVELLING

IN EUROPE

European Union

TRAVELLING

IN EUROPE

2015-16

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

health care should you need it and your dog or cat

can travel with you. If you drive, your driving

licence and motor insurance policy issued in one

EU country are valid in all the others. And using

your mobile phone abroad is getting much

cheaper.

For more information, helpful tips

and a map of Europe, see inside.

Order or download this leaﬂet here:

http://europa.eu/!Nc34vT

NA-04-14-849-EN-C

Documents you will need

For EU citizens

Passport or identity card

There are no longer any controls at the borders between 22

EU countries. This is thanks to the Schengen rules, which

are part of EU law. These 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. All EU

countries are full Schengen members except for Bulgaria,

Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are also

Schengen members but are not in the EU.

You will therefore need to present a valid passport or ID

card when travelling to or returning from the six non-

Schengen countries and when entering or leaving the EU at

the external borders. Carry them when travelling in the EU

because they may be required for identiﬁcation or security

purposes. Before travelling outside the EU, check what

documents are required by the non-EU country you plan to

visit. Be aware that the only valid ID is the one obtained from

national authorities.

Children must have their own passport or ID card.

Visa

You will not need a visa for travelling within the EU.

For non-EU citizens

Passport

You will need a valid passport.

Visa

There are 42 countries whose nationals do not need a visa

to visit the EU for up to 90 days. These include Australia,

Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. The

list of countries whose nationals require visas to travel to

Ireland or the United Kingdom differs slightly from other EU

countries. Apply for a visa at the consulate or embassy of the

country you plan to visit.

If you hold a Schengen visa you can travel to all the Schengen

countries. Moreover, if you have a valid residence permit

issued by one of those Schengen countries, you can stay for

up to 90 days in other Schengen countries. You may need a

national visa to visit the non-Schengen EU countries.

Created by Rémy Médard

from the Noun Project

Money

The euro

The euro is currently used by over two thirds of EU citizens,

or more than 337 million people in 19 EU countries.

The symbol of the euro is €. 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

design. All the notes and coins can be used in all EU

countries that have adopted the euro, including many of their

overseas territories.

Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City use the euro

as their national currency, in agreement with the EU. A

number of countries and territories, such as Kosovo and

Montenegro, use the euro as their de facto currency.

In European countries outside the euro area, many hotels,

shops and restaurants, particularly in tourist areas, accept

payment in euros as well as the national currency, although

they are not legally obliged to do so.

Cash and cards

Banks charge the same fees for international payments in

euros within the EU as for a national transaction of the same

value in euros. So withdrawing euros from a cash machine

anywhere in the EU costs you the same as it does in your own

country from a cash machine that does not belong to your

bank. The same fees must apply to all payments by debit

or credit cards in euros, to euro credit transfers or direct

debit payments, no matter whether the transaction takes

place in your own country or within the EU. Charges for any

transactions may of course differ signiﬁcantly between banks.

International payments in other currencies are not subject to

these provisions.

Block any lost or stolen bank cards immediately by calling the

issuer. Make a note of the number to ring before you travel.

If you enter or leave the EU with €10 000 or more in cash (or

its equivalent in other currencies) you must declare it to the

customs authorities.

Shopping

Within the EU

There are no limits on what you can buy and take with you

when you travel between EU 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.

Tobacco and alcohol

To determine whether tobacco and alcohol are for personal

use, each country can set guide levels. If you carry a larger

quantity of these goods, you may be questioned to check that

you have no commercial intent. The guide levels may not be

lower than:

 800 cigarettes,

 400 cigarillos,

 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.

Food

There are no general restrictions on carrying meat or dairy

products when travelling within the EU.

Coming into the EU

If you enter the EU from a non-EU country, 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 duties do

not apply.

Alcoholic drinks

 1litre of spirits over 22% vol. or 2litres of fortiﬁed or

sparkling wine

 4litres of still wine

 16litres of beer

Tobacco products

Each EU country chooses whether to apply the higher or the

lower limits to travellers coming from outside the EU. If it

applies the lower limits it may apply them only to land and

sea travellers (Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary,

Poland, Slovakia and Sweden) or to all travellers (Estonia and

Romania).

higher limit lower limit

200 cigarettes or 40 cigarettes or

100 cigarillos or 20 cigarillos or

50 cigars or 10 cigars or

250g tobacco or 50g tobacco

These alcohol and tobacco allowances do not apply to

travellers under the age of 17.

Other goods including perfume

If you are travelling by air or sea you may bring in other

goods with a value of not more than €430 and not more

than €300 if travelling by land or inland waterway. Some EU

countries apply a lower limit for travellers under 15 but it

may not be lower than €150.

Food

It is illegal to bring back any meat or dairy products, even

in small quantities, when coming back home from most

countries outside the EU. The only exceptions are Andorra,

Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,

San Marino and Switzerland. This is to protect EU livestock

from animal diseases.

Help for consumers

As a consumer, you are guaranteed fair treatment, products

which meet acceptable standards and a right of redress if

something goes wrong, wherever you are in the EU.

Know what you are eating

Know what you are eating. You can be assured of the

highest food safety standards because of strict laws on the

production, processing and selling of food. You can check

the list of ingredients, including for those most commonly

associated with allergies or intolerance.

Look out for the EU organic logo on all pre-

packaged organic foodstuffs.

Know what you are buying

You are protected from a wide range of unfair commercial

practices both online and in shops. Pre-ticked boxes on

websites are now banned, so that you do not unintentionally

pay for travel insurance, say, when buying a plane ticket

online. Unjustiﬁed surcharges for paying by credit card online

have also been banned.

Cosmetic products have to indicate for how long they

can be used after opening. Check the open jar symbol.

Sunscreen products have clear labelling, including a

standardised indication of UVA protection.

Marking on certain products such as toys, electrical

products and mobile phones indicates that they meet all

relevant EU safety, health and environmental protection

requirements.

Compare prices

The full price, including VAT, of all goods for sale must be

clearly displayed, as well as the unit price — the price per kilo

or per litre. When booking a ﬂight online, the total price of the

ticket, including charges and taxes, must be visible from the

start.

Resolve any problems

European Consumer Centres give practical information on

EU consumer rights as well as advice and assistance with

cross-border complaints or disputes. There are centres in all

28 Member States and in Iceland and Norway. There is also

a useful ECC-Net Travel app with lots of practical help and

information.

Respecting the

environment

Most Europeans want to play an active part in tackling the

problems of climate change and protecting the environment.

When making your travel plans, consider ways of saving

energy and resources and reducing emissions.

To help you make green choices, look for the EU Ecolabel

awarded to products that meet high environmental

standards.The EU Ecolabel can also help you identify

environmentally friendly places to stay: a hotel, a bed and

breakfast, a youth hostel or a campsite.

Getting there

By road

Driving licence

A valid driving licence issued in an EU country is recognised

throughout the EU. Every new licence now being issued

is in the form of a plastic card with a standard European

format. In some countries, in addition to carrying a valid

driving licence, you will need to have your vehicle registration

document with you.

Motor insurance

Wherever you are travelling in the EU your car insurance

policy will automatically provide the minimum cover required

by law (third party liability). This also applies to Iceland,

Liechtenstein and Norway. If you have comprehensive

insurance at home, it often extends to travelling in other

countries, but you should check before setting out.

A European accident statement form, obtained from your

insurer or online, is a standard document available in several

languages that makes it easier to make a declaration on the

spot if you have an accident in another country.

A green card is not obligatory when travelling in the EU but it

serves as internationally recognised proof of minimum third

party liability insurance. If you do not take a green card with

you, you should carry your certiﬁcate of insurance.

Driving safely

In all EU countries, seat belts must be worn in all vehicles

ﬁtted with them. Children must have appropriate child

restraints.

Using a mobile phone while driving greatly increases the risk

of an accident and is forbidden in almost all EU countries,

unless using a hands-free set.

The maximum permitted blood alcohol level varies between

0 mg/ml and 0.8 mg/ml. Other important road safety

information in each EU country — including speed limits,

safety equipment for motorists and cyclists and mandatory

use of daytime running lights and of winter tyres — can be

found in a new Going Abroad app. Drivers who commit road

safety-related trafﬁc offences abroad, such as speeding or

drink-driving, can be tracked down with improved cross-

border exchange of information.

Remember to drive on the left side of the road in Ireland,

Cyprus, Malta and the United Kingdom and that in some

countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal,

you normally have to give way to trafﬁc coming from your

right.

compare prices because published prices must include the

fare, all taxes, fees and surcharges.

Common EU rules on security controls for passengers, hand

luggage and checked luggage apply for all ﬂights departing

from EU airports. EU rules lay down a list of items that are

not allowed into the cabin of an aircr aft and items that

are not allowed in checked baggage for carriage in the hold.

For the time being, there are also restrictions on the amount

of liquids that can be carried in hand luggage. A ﬁrst step

towards removing those restrictions has been taken, allowing

passengers travelling through airports in the EU to carry

duty-free liquids as hand luggage, provided the item and its

receipt remain sealed inside the security bag provided.

Europe has one of the best aviation safety records in the

world thanks to the effective implementation of high

standards. To improve safety further, certain airlines

originating from countries outside the EU are banned from

operating inside European airspace if they are found to be

unsafe or are not sufﬁciently overseen by their authorities.

By air

Creating a single European market in air transport has

meant lower fares and a far wider choice of carriers, routes

and services for passengers. The EU has made it possible for

any airline and its ﬂeet that meets EU-wide safety standards

to ﬂy to and from anywhere in the EU, even taking on

domestic routes in another country. Air travellers can easily

By rail

The EU has over 215 000 km of railways with

extensive international passenger services. There

are over 7 300 km of high-speed lines in several

countries connecting important axes like London–

Paris, Milan–Rome and Barcelona–Madrid with

trains reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h. The

network continues to grow.

By water

There are many key sea routes between EU

countries offering regular, high-quality services

as an alternative to, or in combination with,

road, air or rail. There are also over 41 500 km

of navigable rivers, canals and lakes. The EU

has been at the forefront of improving maritime

safety and promoting high-quality standards, with

rules to protect passengers and crew sailing on

ferries or seagoing vessels to and from European

ports as well as on passenger ships sailing within

the EU.

Passenger rights

The EU is the only area in the world where passengers

beneﬁt from a comprehensive set of rights for all modes

of transport: road, air, rail and water. Passengers in the

EU, including disabled passengers and those with reduced

mobility, have the right to accurate, timely and accessible

information, assistance and, in certain circumstances,

compensation in case of cancellation or long delays.

Bus and coach passengers

All bus and coach passengers have the right to receive

adequate information about the service and about their

passenger rights before and during their journey. Passengers

on international services travelling 250 km or more have

additional rights, such as assistance, reimbursement or

rerouting in case of delay and cancellation.

Air passengers

As an air passenger, you have the right to information,

reimbursement, rerouting, compensation (under certain

circumstances) and assistance if your ﬂight is delayed or

cancelled or if you are denied boarding. These rights apply to

passengers on all ﬂights departing from an EU airport and

on ﬂights arriving in the EU operated by EU air carriers.

Air carriers are liable in the event of accidents or for lost,

damaged or mishandled luggage. Travellers also have

certain rights in relation to package holidays.

Rail passengers

Rail passengers have the right to timely information, refunds,

re-routing, assistance and compensation in the event of long

delays and cancellations on all international rail services

within the EU. Passenger rights on domestic services may

differ from country to country.

Sea and inland waterway passengers

Passengers travelling by sea or inland waterway enjoy rights

including reimbursement, re-routing, compensation, and

assistance if faced with cancellations or delays, as well as

the right to adequate and easily accessible information.

These rights apply, with some exceptions, to those travelling

on passenger services either departing from or arriving

in a port within the EU and on cruises where the port of

embarkation is in the EU.

Disabled passengers and those with reduced

mobility

Passengers who are disabled or reduced in their mobility

are entitled to free assistance in airports, train stations and

ports and in designated coach terminals, as well as on board

aircraft, trains, ships and coaches. It is advisable to notify

the carrier or terminal operator of speciﬁc needs at the time

of booking, when buying the ticket in advance, or at least 48

hours before travelling (36 hours when travelling by coach).

If you are travelling by car and are entitled to use disabled

parking facilities in your home country, the EU standard

model of parking card for the disabled is recognised in all

EU countries and allows you to use the parking facilities

available to the disabled in other EU countries.

Seeking redress

If you feel that your rights have not been respected while

travelling and you want to seek redress, ﬁrst contact

the carrier or terminal operator. If they fail to fulﬁl their

obligations then you can contact the national enforcement

body for your speciﬁc mode of transport. Call the Europe

Direct Freephone number 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 for more

information and details of the relevant enforcement body.

There is also a useful app — Your Passenger Rights — for

checking on the spot what your rights are and how to claim

them.

Staying healthy

Access to health care

As an EU national, if you are suddenly taken ill or have an

accident during a temporary visit to any EU country, Iceland,

Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you are entitled to

use the public health care services on the same terms and

at the same cost as the people insured in that country. Each

country has its own rules for public medical provision. In

some, treatment is free, in some you pay part of the cost, in

others you have to pay the full cost and then claim a refund.

So keep all your bills, prescriptions and receipts. Apply for

reimbursement in the country you are visiting or, failing that,

when you get home.

The European Health Insurance Card proves that you are

insured in an EU country; it simpliﬁes the procedures and

helps to speed up the reimbursement of costs. It is available

free from your national health insurer.

Some countries incorporate the card on

the reverse side of a national card while

others issue separate cards. The app,

European Health Insurance Card, gives

you information on emergency phone

numbers, treatments covered, costs,

and how to claim reimbursement.

Travel insurance

The European Health Insurance Card is

not a substitute for travel insurance as

it may not cover all health costs and it

never covers repatriation costs. So you

may want to take out separate travel

insurance to cover those risks.

Medicines

A prescription from your doctor is valid in all EU countries

but check that the prescribed medicine is authorised for

sale and is available in the country you are visiting. Ask for a

cross-border prescription, designed to help pharmacists to

fulﬁl the prescription by giving them clear information on the

prescriber, the patient and the prescribed product, including

its common name and brand name and the quantity and dose

required.

Immunisation

There are, in general, no immunisation requirements when

travelling in the EU. However, there are requirements or

recommendations for certain of the EU’s overseas territories.

Check with your doctor before you go.

Bathing water

To protect bathers’ health and the environment, strict

standards are set for EU bathing water. The overall water

quality at the EU’s 22 000 bathing sites remains high: more

than 94 % meet the minimum water quality standards and

83% meet the more stringent ‘excellent’ standard. Ofﬁcial

symbols give information on the quality of water at these

bathing sites.

385

Croatia

Italy

353

Ireland

352

Luxembourg

370

Lithuania

371

Latvia

356

Malta

Netherlands

351

Portugal

Poland

Romania

Sweden

421

Slovakia

386

Slovenia

Austria

Belgium

359

Bulgaria

357

Cyprus

420

Czech Republic

Germany

Denmark

Spain

372

Estonia

France

358

Finland

United Kingdom

Greece

Hungary

Communicating

Languages

Europe is rich in languages. The main language families in

the EU include Germanic, Romance, Slav, Baltic and Celtic.

The EU has 24 ofﬁcial languages but there are many other

lesser-spoken ones.

More than half of Europeans say that they are able to hold

a conversation in at least one language other than their

mother tongue and a quarter say that they are able to speak

at least two additional languages. During your travels in

Europe, try using a few phrases of the local language when

talking to local people. Here’s how to say ‘thank you’.

Bulgarian Blagodarya Irish Go raibh maith agat

Croatian Hvala Italian Grazie

Czech Děkuji Latvian Paldies

Danish Tak Lithuanian Ačiū

Dutch Bedankt Maltese Grazzi

English Thank you Polish Dziękuję

Estonian Aitäh Portuguese Obrigado

Finnish Kiitos Romanian Mulţumesc

French Merci Slovak Ďakujem

German Danke Slovenian Hvala

Greek Efkaristo Spanish Gracias

Hungarian Köszönöm Swedish Tack

Telephone

There is just one preﬁx for making international telephone

calls anywhere in the EU. It is 00:

Time zones

Summer time

Daylight saving time begins across the EU on 29 March 2015,

when clocks are moved forward an hour, and it ends on 25

October 2015, when clocks are put back an hour. The dates

for 2016 are 27 March and 30 October.

GMT +3GMT +2GMT +1GMT GMT +4 GMT +5

The EU supports and contributes to many cultural projects

and events across Europe every year. One of these is to

designate a cultural capital of Europe. The EU helps to fund

exhibitions and events highlighting the cultural heritage of

the chosen cities and bringing together a vast array of artists

and performers from across the Union.

Mons, known as a cultural city in Wallonia, south-west

Belgium, and Plzeň, at the conﬂuence of four rivers in

western Bohemia in the Czech Republic, are the European

capitals of culture in 2015. The Basque city of Donostia-San

Sebastián on the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain and the

multicultural city of Wrocław in the Silesian lowlands in

Poland share the title in 2016.

Austria

http://www.austria.info

Belgium

http://www.visitﬂanders.com

http://www.opt.be

Bulgaria

http://bulgariatravel.org

Cyprus

http://www.visitcyprus.com

Czech Republic

http://www.czechtourism.com

Germany

http://www.germany.travel

Denmark

http://www.visitdenmark.com

Spain

http://www.spain.info

Estonia

http://www.visitestonia.com

France

http://int.rendezvousenfrance.

com/

Finland

http://www.visitﬁnland.com

United Kingdom

http://www.visitbritain.com

Greece

http://www.visitgreece.gr

Hungary

http://www.gotohungary.com

Croatia

http://www.croatia.hr

Italy

http://www.enit.it

Ireland

http://www.discoverireland.ie

Luxembourg

http://www.ont.lu

Lithuania

http://www.visitlithuania.net

Latvia

http://www.latvia.travel

Malta

http://www.visitmalta.com

Netherlands

http://www.holland.com

Portugal

http://www.visitportugal.com

Poland

http://www.poland.travel

Romania

http://www.romaniatourism.com

Sweden

http://www.visitsweden.com

Slovakia

http://www.slovakia.travel

Slovenia

http://www.slovenia.info

Things to do

There is a dazzling choice of things to do and see in Europe.

For ideas and information on all countries, have a look at

the European tourist destinations website (http://www.

visiteurope.com) or go to the websites of the ofﬁcial national

tourist organisations of each EU country.

The abbreviations for countries are those used on nationality

plates on cars.

Pets

Travelling with a dog, cat or ferret is easy with an EU pet

passport, available from any vet. All dogs, cats and ferrets

must have a passport and, for identiﬁcation purposes, be

ﬁtted with an electronic microchip or have a clearly readable

tattoo applied before July 2011. They must be vaccinated

against rabies and the details entered in their pet passport.

The vaccination must be carried out after the microchipping

or tattooing.

Dogs must be given speciﬁc tapeworm treatment by a vet

before travelling to Ireland, Malta, Finland and the United

Kingdom. Details of the treatment must appear in the pet

passport and the dog can then travel between 1 and 5 days

after treatment.

The EU pet passport is only for dogs, cats and ferrets. If

you want to travel with other pets such as rabbits, birds or

rodents, check with your vet.

Mobile phones

EU rules have signiﬁcantly reduced the cost of using mobile

phones and smart devices abroad. You can now enjoy price

reductions of 80–90 % across a range of mobile services —

calls, text messages and data — compared with 2007 prices.

This has been achieved by introducing price caps. These are

maximum charges but operators are free to offer cheaper

rates, so look out for the best deal.

When you cross a border in the EU you will get a text from

your mobile operator telling you the price of making and

receiving calls, texting and going online in the country you

have just entered. To protect you against excessive data

roaming bills, the volume of downloaded data on your mobile

device is capped, worldwide, at €50, or your preagreed limit.

You will receive a warning when you reach 80 % of this limit.

Since July 2014, consumers have been able to shop around

for a separate mobile roaming provider. You can choose a

cheaper roaming service from a company in the country

you are visiting or from a rival company in your own country

without changing your SIM card.

Postage

Postage stamps can only be used in the country in which you

buy them, even when priced in euro.

Electricity

All of Europe has 220–240 volt, 50-cycle alternating current.

Ireland, Cyprus, 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 two-pin appliances anywhere. Adaptors can usually be

bought in airports and tourist resorts.

If things go wrong

Single European emergency number: 112

To contact the emergency services in any EU country from

any phone, ﬁxed or mobile, dial 112, free of charge.

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 debit or 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.

Getting in touch

with the EU

Online

Information in all the ofﬁcial languages of the European

Union is available on the Europa website: www.europa.eu

In person

All over Europe there are hundreds of local EU information

centres. You can ﬁnd the address of the centre nearest to you

at: www.europedirect.europa.eu

On the phone or by email

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 (certain mobile telephone

operators do not allow access to 00800 numbers or may

charge for these calls), or by payphone from outside the EU:

+32 22999696, or by e-mail via www.europedirect.europa.eu

Read about Europe

Publications about the EU are only a click away on the EU

Bookshop website: www.bookshop.europa.eu

You can also obtain information and booklets in English

about the European Union from

European Commission Representations

The website ‘Your Europe’ gives

more advice on your rights when

you live, work and travel in the

EU: ec.europa.eu/youreurope

European Commission

Directorate-General for

Communication

Citizens' information

1049 Brussels

BELGIUM

Manuscript completed in

November 2014

Reproduction is authorised.

For any use or reproduction

of individual photographs,

permission must be sought

directly from the copyright holder.

Illustrations: © iStockphoto.

com/akindo; © iStockphoto.com/

dutchicon; © thenounproject.com/

Rémy Médard

ISBN 978-92-79-41219-6

doi:10.2775/65573

European Parliament Information Ofﬁces

European Commission

Representation in Ireland

European Union House

18 Dawson Street

Dublin 2

IRELAND

Tel. +353 16341111

Internet: http://www.ec.europa.

eu/ireland

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ec.europa.eu

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Kingdom

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eu/uk

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eu/uk

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europa.eu

There are European Commission

and Parliament representations

and ofﬁces in all the countries

of the European Union. The

European Union also has

delegations in other parts of the

world.

The EU supports and contributes to many cultural projects

and events across Europe every year. One of these is to

designate a cultural capital of Europe. The EU helps to fund

exhibitions and events highlighting the cultural heritage of

the chosen cities and bringing together a vast array of artists

and performers from across the Union.

Mons, known as a cultural city in Wallonia, south-west

Belgium, and Plzeň, at the conﬂuence of four rivers in

western Bohemia in the Czech Republic, are the European

capitals of culture in 2015. The Basque city of Donostia-San

Sebastián on the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain and the

multicultural city of Wrocław in the Silesian lowlands in

Poland share the title in 2016.

Austria

http://www.austria.info

Belgium

http://www.visitﬂanders.com

http://www.opt.be

Bulgaria

http://bulgariatravel.org

Cyprus

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Czech Republic

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Germany

http://www.germany.travel

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Spain

http://www.spain.info

Estonia

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France

http://int.rendezvousenfrance.

com/

Finland

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United Kingdom

http://www.visitbritain.com

Greece

http://www.visitgreece.gr

Hungary

http://www.gotohungary.com

Croatia

http://www.croatia.hr

Italy

http://www.enit.it

Ireland

http://www.discoverireland.ie

Luxembourg

http://www.ont.lu

Lithuania

http://www.visitlithuania.net

Latvia

http://www.latvia.travel

Malta

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Netherlands

http://www.holland.com

Portugal

http://www.visitportugal.com

Poland

http://www.poland.travel

Romania

http://www.romaniatourism.com

Sweden

http://www.visitsweden.com

Slovakia

http://www.slovakia.travel

Slovenia

http://www.slovenia.info

If things go wrong

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To contact the emergency services in any EU country from

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Things to do

There is a dazzling choice of things to do and see in Europe.

For ideas and information on all countries, have a look at

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visiteurope.com) or go to the websites of the ofﬁcial national

tourist organisations of each EU country.

The abbreviations for countries are those used on nationality

plates on cars.

Pets

Travelling with a dog, cat or ferret is easy with an EU pet

passport, available from any vet. All dogs, cats and ferrets

must have a passport and, for identiﬁcation purposes, be

ﬁtted with an electronic microchip or have a clearly readable

tattoo applied before July 2011. They must be vaccinated

against rabies and the details entered in their pet passport.

The vaccination must be carried out after the microchipping

or tattooing.

Dogs must be given speciﬁc tapeworm treatment by a vet

before travelling to Ireland, Malta, Finland and the United

Kingdom. Details of the treatment must appear in the pet

passport and the dog can then travel between 1 and 5 days

after treatment.

The EU pet passport is only for dogs, cats and ferrets. If

you want to travel with other pets such as rabbits, birds or

rodents, check with your vet.

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Read about Europe

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European Commission Representations

30°W 20° 20°

20°

30°

30°E

40° 50°E

70°N

10° 10°0°

70°N

60°N

50°

40°

0 100 200 300 400 km

0 100 200 300 mi

NORTH

SEA

SEA OF

NORWAY

IONIAN

SEA

TYRRHENIAN

SEA

BLACK

SEA

AEGEAN

SEA

CELTIC

SEA

WHITE

SEA

BARENTS

SEA

GULF OF

LIONS

BAY OF

BISCAY

O C E

A D

Sava

Altaelva

Weser

Elbe

Douro

Meuse

Dnepr

Guadalquivir

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Odra

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Euphrates

Kızılırmak

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Kumo älv

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Seine

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Donau

Kemijoki

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Rhône

Ebro

Loire

Rhei

Dunav

Nëman

Guadiana

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Kelkit

Inn

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Tisza

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Jönköping

Växjö

Nyköping

Linköping

Visby

Karlskrona

Uppsala

Kalmar

Gävle

Falun

Karlstad

Göteborg

Umeå

Luleå

Östersund

Härnösand

Västerås

Örebro

Halmstad

Malmö

Trento

Torino

Bologna

Napoli

Perugia

L'Aquila

Bari

Ancona

Palermo

Genova

Firenze

Innsbruck

Bregenz

Klagenfurt

Graz

Linz

Eisenstadt

Salzburg

Porto

Coimbra

Belfast

Caerdydd

rdiff

Santander

Valladolid

Oviedo

Santiago de

Compostela

Murcia

Logroño

Iruña

Pamplona

Barcelona

Zaragoza

Toledo

Palma de

Mallorca

València

Valencia

Mérida

Sevilla

Mainz

Wiesbaden

Kiel

Hannover

Schwerin

Hamburg

Magdeburg

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Stuttgart

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Saarbrücken

Erfurt

Montpellier

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Faro

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Ajaccio

Hillerød

Sorø

Vejle

Viborg

Aalborg

Tauragė

Klaipėda

Telšiai

Šiauliai

Utena

Panevėžys

Marijampolė

Alytus

Kau

nas

Gorzów

Wielkopolski

Rzeszów

Kielce

Katowice

Opole

Wrocław

Poznań

Łódź

Gdańsk

Bydgoszcz

Lublin

Szczecin

Olsztyn

Białystok

Mariehamn

Maarianhamina

Turku

Åbo

Hämeenlinna

Mikkeli

S:t Michel

Vaasa

Vasa

Tavastehus

Oulu

Uleåborg

Rovaniemi

Namur

Sankt

Pölten

Rennes

Orléans

Besançon

Poitiers

Limoges

Dijon

Amiens

Caen

Lille

Rouen

Châlons-en-

Champagne

Nantes

Lyon

Bordeaux

Metz

Clermont-

Ferrand

Vitoria-Gasteiz

Évora

Milano

Campobasso

Aosta-Aoste

Cagliari

Venezia

Potenza

Catanzaro

Tri

este

Kraków

Daugavpils

Valmiera

Liepāja

Jelgava

Irakleion

Larisa

Kerkyra

Ermoupolis

Patrai

Mytilini

Lamia

Ioannina

Kozani

Komotini

Thessaloniki

Tripolis

Chișinău

Oslo

Yerevan

Tunis

Dimashq

Beyrouth

Kyïv

Alger

Rabat

Bern

Moskva

Minsk

Tbilisi

Skopje

Zagreb

Berlin

Ankara

Λευκωσία

Lefkosía

Lefkosa

Helsinki

Helsingfors

Stockholm

Baile Átha Cliath

Dublin

London

Roma

Αθήνα

Athína

București

Bratislava

Valletta

København

Amsterdam

Rīga

Ljubljana

София

Sofia

Vilnius

Budapest

Tallinn

Praha

Wien

Par

Madrid

Lisboa

Warszawa

Strasbourg

Frankfurt

a. M.

Brussel

Bruxelles

Luxembourg

Den Haag

Reykjavík

Tiranë

Sarajevo

Priština

Podgorica

Beograd

ÖREBRO LÄN

SKÅNE LÄN

GIBRALTAR

KALMAR LÄN

MELILLA

CEUTA

SÖDERMANLANDS

LÄN

VÄSTRA GÖTALANDS LAN

VÄSTERNORRLANDS LÄN

VÄSTMANLANDS

LÄN

VÄSTERBOTTENS LÄN

ÖSTERGÖTLANDS LÄN

NORRBOTTENS LÄN

STOCKHOLMS LÄN

GÄVLEBORGS LÄN

JÖNKÖPINGS LÄN

KRONOBERGS LÄN

VÄRMLANDS LÄN

JÄMTLANDS LÄN

GOTLANDS LÄN

DALARNAS L

ÄN

BLEKINGE LÄN

HALLANDS LÄN

UPPSALA LÄN

VORARL-

BERG

LIGURIA

KÄRNTEN

ALGARVE

SACHSEN

HAMBURG

NORTHERN

IRELAND

WALES

E N G L A N D

ULSTER

MARCHE

VENETO

MOLISE

UMBRIA

ALSACE

HAUTE-

NORMANDIE

BAYERN

BREMEN

LONDON

TIROL

BURGEN-

LAND

WIEN

COMUNIDAD

DE MADRID

CASTILLA Y LEÓN

NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN

CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

ANDALUCÍA

GALICIA

ILLES BALEARS

PIEMONTE

CONNAUGHT

SCOTLAND

SOUTH WEST

SICILIA

CALABRIA

BASILICATA

PUGLIA

ABRUZZO

LAZIO

TOSCANA

EMILIA-ROMAGNA

ROVENCE-ALPES-

CÔTE D'AZUR

MIDI-PYRÉNÉES

AQUITAINE

CATALUÑA

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NORTE

CENTRO

ALENTEJO

COMUNIDAD

VALENCIANA

POITOU-CHARENTES

LIMOUSIN

AUVERGNE

RHÔNE-ALPES

BRETAGNE

PAYS DE LA LOIRE

CENTRE

BOURGOGNE

LORRAINE

PICARDIE

NIEDERSACHSEN

HESSEN

BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

YORKSHIRE AND

THE HUMBER

NORTH

WEST

BRANDENBURG

MECKLENBURG-

VORPOMMERN

SARDEGNA

CORSE

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KLAIPĖDA

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WARMIŃSKO-MAZURSKIE

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DOLNOŚLĄSKIE

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MAKEDONIA

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AIGAIO

THESSALIA

ANATOLIKI

MAKEDONIA KAI THRAKI

IPEIROS

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NISOI

DYTIKI

MAKEDONIA

MOLDOVA

GEORGIA

AZERBAIJAN

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

SERBIA

ARMENIA

IRAN

ALBANIA

IRAQ

SYRIA

MOROCCO

TUNISIA

ALGERIA

LEBANON

UKRAINE

KAZAKHSTAN

MONTENEGRO

RUSSIA

BELAR

TURKEY

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV

REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

РОССИЯ

БЕЛАРУСЬ

РОССИЯ

УКРАЇНА

(AZƏR.)

HAЇASTAN

LIBNAN

IRAN

AZƏRBAYCAN

SAKARTVELO

SUISSE

MOLDOVA

SCHWEIZ

SVIZZERA

ANDORRA

MONACO

SAN MARINO

ROSSIJA

LIECHTENSTEIN

CITTÀ DEL VATICANO

NORGE

IRAQ

SOURIYA

ROSSIJA

BELARUS'

UKRAЇNA

QAZAQSTAN

TOUNIS

EL MAGHREB

EL DJAZÂIR

LUXEMBOURG

ΚΥΠΡΟΣ

KÝPROS

KIBRIS

BELGIQUE

BELGIË

PORTUGAL

DEUTSCHLAND

LATVIJA

EESTI

ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA

SLOVENSKO

MAGYARORSZÁG

POLSKA

LIETUVA

SLOVENIJA

BULGARIA

ROMÂNIA

TÜRKİYE

MALTA

HRVATSKA

БЪЛГА

РИЯ

UNITED KINGDOM

FINLAND

ITALIA

ÖSTERREICH

NEDERLAND

SVERIGE

SUOMI

IRELAND

ΕΛΛΑΔΑ

ELLÁDA

FRANCE

DANMARK

ESPAÑA

ÉIRE

PORANEŠNA JUGOSLOVENSKA

REPUBLIKA MAKEDONIJA

ÍSLAND

BOSNA I

HERCEGOVINA

CRNA GORA

KOSOVO

SHQIPËRIA

SRBIJA

* UNSCR 1244 / ICJ 22.07.2010

ЦРНА ГОРА

СРБИЈА

111

357

132

505

544

301

11.2

7.2

10.5

5.6

80.8

1.3

11.0

46.5

65.9

4.6

60.8

0.9

2.0

2.9

31 600

11 900

21 900

33 100

32 600

19 500

19 300

25 000

28 400

34 500

26 500

23 600

17 000

19 400

0.5

9.9

0.4

16.8

8.5

38.5

10.5

19.9

2.1

5.4

9.6

64.3

68 500

17 600

22 800

34 900

34 000

17 900

21 000

14 500

21 800

20 000

30 000

33 700

28 900

0.3

313

230

305

411

244

56 4.2 16 100

26 600

(

)

(

)

(

)

(

)

(

)

18 300

27 400

40 000

4 234

365

16 889

9 159

507.4

127.1

142.5

318.9

7 700

10 700

13 0.6

3.8 (

)

Hrvatska

Croatia

THE EUROPEAN UNION

BASIC STATISTICS ON EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

European Union Member States

Area

(1 000 km

)

Population

(million)

Per capita

gross domestic product

(PPS ())

België/Belgique

Belgium

България

Bulgaria

Česká republika

Czech Republic

Danmark

Denmark

Deutschland

Germany

Eesti

Estonia

Éire/Ireland

Ελλάδα

Greece

España

Spain

France

Italia

Italy

Κύπρος/Kıbrıs

Cyprus

Latvija

Latvia

Lietuva

Lithuania

Area

(1 000 km

)

Population

(million)

Per capita

gross domestic product

(PPS ())

Luxembourg

Magyarország

Hungary

Malta

Nederland

Netherlands

Österreich

Austria

Polska

Poland

Portugal

România

Romania

Slovenija

Slovenia

Slovensko

Slovakia

Suomi/Finland

Finland

Sverige

Sweden

United Kingdom

Europe and the worldCandidate countries and potential candidates

Area

(1 000 km

)

Population

(million)

Per capita

gross domestic product

(PPS ())

The 28 European

Union countries

together

9 0009 327 1 355.7

China

Japan

Russia

United States

(

) Gross domestic product is the total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year.

It is often used to express wealth. PPS, purchasing power standard, is a unit representing an identical volume of goods

and services in each country, irrespective of price levels. The value of 1 PPS unit corresponds roughly to EUR 1.

(

) 2013.

(*) This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and

the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Figures are for 2014.

Source: Eurostat (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu)

United in diversity: The European Union is made up of 28 European countries that share the same

democratic values and are committed to working together for the common good. They have

transferred specic powers to shared European institutions so that democratic decisions on questions

of Europe-wide importance can be made at European level. At the same time, the EU is committed to

safeguarding the diversity of European cultures and ways of life. Some other countries are candidates

for EU membership. Learn more about the European Union at http://europa.eu

Published January 2015 by the

European Commission

Directorate-General for Communication

Citizens' Information

1049 Brussels

BELGIUM

Publications Oce of the European Union

https://bookshop.europa.eu

Map originally created by Lovell Johns,

http://www.lovelljohns.com

EU Member State

Candidate country or

potential candidate

Headquarters of EU institutions

National frontier

National capital

Seat of government

Regional boundary

Regional capital

Major waterway

KEY

Area

(1 000 km

)

Population

(million)

Per capita

gross domestic product

(PPS ())

Bosnia and

Herzegovina

Montenegro

9 500

—

7 400

1.8

2.1

2.9

9 800

(

)

(

)

7.1

14 100

770

76.7

Kosovo(*)

Albania

Serbia

Turkey

The former

Yugoslav

Republic

of Macedonia

4 1003 287 1 236.3

India

The website ‘Your Europe’ gives

more advice on your rights when

you live, work and travel in the

EU: ec.europa.eu/youreurope

European Commission

Directorate-General for

Communication

Citizens' information

1049 Brussels

BELGIUM

Manuscript completed in

November 2014

Reproduction is authorised.

For any use or reproduction

of individual photographs,

permission must be sought

directly from the copyright holder.

Rémy Médard

ISBN 978-92-79-41219-6

doi:10.2775/65573

EU countries

using the euro

EU countries not

using the euro

European Parliament Information Ofﬁces

European Commission

Representation in Ireland

European Union House

18 Dawson Street

Dublin 2

IRELAND

Tel. +353 16341111

Internet: http://www.ec.europa.

eu/ireland

E-mail: eu-ie-info-request@

ec.europa.eu

European Commission

Representation in the United

Kingdom

Europe House

32 Smith Square

London SW1P 3EU

UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 2079731992

Internet: http://www.ec.europa.

eu/uk

European Commission Ofﬁce in

Northern Ireland

74–76 Dublin Road

Belfast BT2 7HP

UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 2890240708

Internet: http://www.ec.europa.

eu/uk

European Commission Ofﬁce in

Scotland

9 Alva Street

Edinburgh EH2 4PH

UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 1312252058

Internet: http://www.ec.europa.

eu/uk

European Commission Ofﬁce in

Wales

2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way

Cardiff CF10 4QQ

UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 2920895020

Internet: http://www.ec.europa.

eu/uk

Delegation of the European

Union to the United States

2175 K Street, NW

Washington DC 20037

UNITED STATES

Tel. +1 2028629500

Internet: http://www.eurunion.org

Information Ofﬁce in Ireland

43 Molesworth Street

Dublin 2

IRELAND

Tel. +353 16057900

Internet: http://www.europarl.ie

E-mail: epdublin@europarl.

europa.eu

Information Ofﬁce in the United

Kingdom

Europe House

32 Smith Square

London SW1P 3EU

UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 2072274300

Internet: http://www.europarl.

org.uk

E-mail: eplondon@europarl.

europa.eu

Information Ofﬁce in Scotland

The Tun, 4 Jackson’s Entry

Holyrood Road

Edinburgh EH8 8PJ

UNITED KINGDOM

Tel. +44 1315577866

Internet: http://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 Union also has

delegations in other parts of the

world.

Mobile phones

EU rules have signiﬁcantly reduced the cost of using mobile

phones and smart devices abroad. You can now enjoy price

reductions of 80–90 % across a range of mobile services —

calls, text messages and data — compared with 2007 prices.

This has been achieved by introducing price caps. These are

maximum charges but operators are free to offer cheaper

rates, so look out for the best deal.

When you cross a border in the EU you will get a text from

your mobile operator telling you the price of making and

receiving calls, texting and going online in the country you

have just entered. To protect you against excessive data

roaming bills, the volume of downloaded data on your mobile

device is capped, worldwide, at €50, or your preagreed limit.

You will receive a warning when you reach 80 % of this limit.

Since July 2014, consumers have been able to shop around

for a separate mobile roaming provider. You can choose a

cheaper roaming service from a company in the country

you are visiting or from a rival company in your own country

without changing your SIM card.

Postage

Postage stamps can only be used in the country in which you

buy them, even when priced in euro.

Electricity

All of Europe has 220–240 volt, 50-cycle alternating current.

Ireland, Cyprus, 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 two-pin appliances anywhere. Adaptors can usually be

bought in airports and tourist resorts.