Travelling in Europe

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Europe: a continent with thousands of years of history, a rich and diverse cultural heritage and some of the world 9s most beautiful scenery 4 so much for the traveller to discover and explore, and all this made easier by the European Union (EU). The 25 countries of the Union stretch across the continent from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean Sea and from the west coast of Ireland to the eastern edge of Finland or Cyprus. You can cross many borders within the EU without passport or baggage checks and the euro makes it easier to shop around for bargains.

A single market of 457 million people brings wider choice and lower prices. You have easy access to healthcare, if required, and pets need no longer be left at home. If you drive, your driving licence and motor insurance issued in one EU country are valid in all the others.

And you can use your mobile phone everywhere. Easy travel for EU citizens There are no longer frontier controls at the borders between more than half the EU countries. Passports or ID cards are no longer needed, and flights between them are treated as domestic flights.

This is thanks to the so-called ... more. less.

Schengen Agreement, which is part of EU law. The full Schengen members are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden (but not Ireland and the United Kingdom) plus Iceland and Norway (which are not EU members). The 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 are not yet fully part of the Schengen area. You will therefore need a valid passport or ID card to travel to those countries and to Ireland and the United Kingdom. However, as an EU citizen it is always prudent to carry your passport or ID card when travelling in the EU as spot checks can happen if public order or national security so require. When entering or leaving the EU at the external borders you will need a valid passport or ID card. You will never need a visa for travelling within the EU. Visitors from outside the EU If you are not a citizen of an EU country you will need a valid passport to enter the EU. Nationals of 33 countries do not need a visa to visit the EU for three months or less. These include Bulgaria and Romania, due to join the EU in 2007, and Croatia (a candidate country) 4 as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. If your visa is from a country in the Schengen area, you can travel to the other Schengen countries as well without additional formalities. If you have a valid residence permit from a Schengen country, it is equivalent to a visa. You may need a national visa to visit Ireland, the United Kingdom and the new EU countries. The euro The euro is the currency of more than 300 million people in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The symbol for the euro is ¬ . The euro is used also in Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom are not currently using the single currency. The 10 countries that became EU members in 2004 are committed to adopting the euro but none will be ready to do so until at least 2007. Some retail outlets in countries outside the euro area accept payment in euro as well as the national currency, but they are not legally obliged to do so. Notes and coins valid everywhere 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 notes and coins can be used anywhere in the euro area. Gone are the cost and hassle of changing money when moving from one country to another. Cross-border payments Thanks to EU rules, withdrawing euro from a cash machine, making a card payment or a bank transfer in euro (up to ¬ 12500) now costs the same wherever you are in the EU. Shopping There are no limits on what you can buy when you travel between EU countries, as long as it is for personal use and not for resale. Taxes (VAT and excise) are included in the price you pay and no further tax is due in any other EU country. Buying tobacco and alcohol To determine whether the tobacco and alcohol you buy when visiting other EU coun- tries are for personal use, each country can set guide levels. If you exceed these levels, you may be asked to prove that the goods are intended for person- al use and to justify their pur- chase. The guide levels are generous. For instance, you can bring home from another country 800 ciga- rettes, plus 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer without questions being asked. Some temporary restrictions still apply on cigarettes and tobacco bought in the new EU mem- ber states by residents of other EU countries. Bringing in goods from outside the EU Visitors from outside, or holidaymakers returning from abroad, can bring with them goods free of VAT and excise duties for personal use within cer- tain limits. The main limits are: Tobacco Alcoholic drinks 200 cigarettes or1 litre of spirits or 100 cigarillos or2 litres of wine 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco Consumer protection As a consumer, you are protected by basic laws that apply no matter what EU country you are in. These cover things such as uniform food safety standards and detailed rules on food labelling and advertising. EU law provides specific protec- tion on package holiday deals and timeshare property schemes. Practical information and support in bringing complaints against traders in other EU countries can be found through the network of European cosumer centres (europa.eu.int/comm /consumers/map.htm) Look for the flower Look for the flower, the EU eco-label, on everyday consumer goods from detergents to textiles to help you find greener products. For a list of eco- labelled products, visit www.eco- label.com You can now also use the flower to find an environmentally friendly hotel, bed-and-breakfast or youth hostel. Driving licence A valid driving licence from any EU country is valid throughout the EU. In some countries, in addition to carrying a valid driving licence, you will need to have your vehicle registration document with you. Minimum age limits for hiring a car are not fixed at EU level and can vary between 20 and 23. There may also be maximum age limits, which are generally between 65 and 75. Motor insurance When travelling in the EU, your car insurance will automatically provide, at no extra cost, the minimum cover (third-party liability) required by law. This also applies to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. If you have comprehensive insurance at home, check whether the full cover extends to travelling in other countries. You do not need a green card when travelling in the EU but it serves as internationally recognised proof of insurance, making it easier to claim compensation if you have 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. Drive safely In all EU countries, you must wear seatbelts in both the front and back of the car. Remember to drive on the left in Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. The speed limit is generally 110, 120 or 130km/h on motorways and 50 or 60km/h in built-up areas. Using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of a fatal accident five times over. It is either explicitly or implicitly forbidden in all EU countries. In some countries, the use of hands-free devices is tolerated. The maximum permitted blood alcohol level varies between 0.2 mg/ml and 0.9 mg/ml in most countries. But others apply zero tolerance and allow no alcohol in the blood while driving. Pay as you go There are toll roads in many countries including Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Visitors using Austrian motorways and 8A 9 roads must possess and display a toll label or vignette on their vehicle. These can be bought at all major border crossings into Austria and at larger petrol stations. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia have a similar system of a sticker affixed to the windscreen. Languages Europe is rich in languages. The main language families are Germanic, Romance, Slav, Celtic and Baltic. The EU institutions have 20 official languages, but there are many other lesser-used ones. Many Europeans speak at least one other language besides their mother tongue but, during your travels in Europe, try using a few phrases of the local language when talking to local people. It will add colour to your experiences. Start with a 8Good morning 9: Flying Creating a single European market in air transport has lowered fares and increased the choice of carriers and services for passengers. EU rules also safeguard passenger interests. These include certain rights concerning flight information and reservations, delays and cancellations, compen- sation if you are refused boarding because of overbooking, or in the case of accident or difficulties with package holidays. Security in airports Avoid the delay and inconvenience of having something confiscated by airport security by making sure you are not travelling with prohibited articles. EU-wide lists of items that are not allowed in the cabin and baggage hold on flights from EU airports have been agreed. Authorities have to provide this information to passengers before check-in, so look out for it in the check-in area. Access to healthcare If you are an EU national, you can get free or reduced-cost healthcare in the case of illness or acci- dent during a visit to any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Since June 2004, a European health insurance card has been introduced to facilitate access to healthcare in the EU and to speed up the reimbursement of costs. It is replacing the E111 form which remains valid during the changeover period. Only publicly funded health treatment is included in this scheme for the moment and 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. 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 suspicion. Bathing water Strict standards are set for bathing water throughout the EU. Bathing water is regularly monitored and an annual European Commission report shows bathing water quality improving all the time. If things go wrong The same number can be used to contact the emergency services in any EU country: just dial 112. Phoning without borders There is just one prefix for making international telephone calls anywhere in the EU. It is 00. Country codes for phone calls: Mobile phones You can use your mobile phone anywhere in Europe and in many other countries thanks to the EU 9s GSM technical standard. Before travelling, however, contact your service provider to make sure that your phone is enabled for international roaming. The costs will depend on your provider. There can be charges for receiving calls abroad both for you and the caller. Electricity All Europe has 230volt, 50cycle alternating current. Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the UK 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. Simple adapter plugs can usually be bought in airports and tourist resorts. Time zones Travelling with pets A pet passport was introduced in 2004 making it easier to travel with pets. All cats and dogs will need one, and it will be accepted across the EU as proof that a pet has received the anti-rabies vaccination. However, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom also require proof that the vaccination has been effective. The necessary tests must be carried out at least six months prior to travel to Ireland, Malta and the UK and 120 days beforehand in the case of Sweden. An electronic microchip will be introduced by 2012 to allow easy identification of the animal. In the meantime, an identification tattoo can be used except in Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom, where a microchip is already required. An annual version of Travelling in Europe is published as a folder, while an extended version is published on the internet, which also provides links to more detailed information on the subjects covered: europa.eu.int/abc/travel © Published by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Press and Communication, August 2005 Photos Signpost: Zefa. Other photos (from left to right): Roberto Trioschi; Corbis/Van Parys Media; Zefa; Emmanuel Trepant; Zefa. NA-69-05-383-EN-P You can learn more about the EU at the 8Europa 9 website: europa.eu.int 8EUROPE DIRECT 9 answers your questions about the EU: call 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or e-mail via e u r o p a . e u . i n t / e u r o p e d i r e c t Culture The EU supports and contributes to many cultural projects and events taking place across Europe. Each year, it designates a cultural capital of Europe. Cork in Ireland was the choice for 2005. It is followed in 2006 by Patras in Greece, while the joint culture capitals for 2007 are Luxembourg and Sibiu (Romania). Europe 9s calendar is crowded with festivals and special events in music, art, theatre, dance and film. Check with national tourist offices for details of what is on when you are travelling. The country abbreviations are those used on motor vehicles.

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