EU price

These countries are in the EU on January 1st 2007. These countries will be charged the EU price. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

The European Union (EU) is the result of a process of cooperation and integration which began in 1951 between six countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). After nearly fifty years, with four waves of accessions (1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Spain and Portugal; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden).

The European Union's mission is to organise relations between the Member States and between their peoples in a coherent manner and on the basis of solidarity.The main objectives are: - to promote economic and social progress (the single market was established in 1993; the single currency was launched in 1999); - to assert the identity of the European Union on the international scene (through European humanitarian aid to non-EU countries, common foreign and security policy, action in international crises; common positions within international organisations); - to introduce European citizenship (which does not replace national citizenship but complements it and confers a number of civil and politic rights on European citizens);- to develop an area of freedom, security and justice (linked to the operation of the internal market and more particularly the freedom of movement of persons); - to maintain and build on established EU law (all the legislation adopted by the European institutions, together with the founding treaties).

On May 1st 2004 ten more countries joined the EU. Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Southern Cyprus.

On January 1st 2007 Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union.

We are always being asked why people outside the EU benefit from lower prices when the EU is supposed to be better for the people in it. We do not know the answer to this question and suggest you contact and ask your local EU politician's, known as MEP's. Member of the European Parliament. If he or she can tell you why we would also like to know.

Export Price

These countries are in the European Union (EU) and will be charged the EU price. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Customers in countries NOT listed above will be charged the lower EXPORT price.