European duty-free sales amount to almost $6.5 billion a year.

Britain alone accounts for about 25 percent of Europe's duty-free sales.

By 2013 the pre-2010 rules regarding duty-free sales have been restored.

The benefits of duty-free sales, on ferries for example, help them to operate to a certain degree.

Whatever we say, it is still the case that the question of the existence of duty-free sales has extremely little to do with economic benefits.

Commissioner, it appears that you have set your face against the retention of duty-free sales.

Thirdly, you have said a lot about duty-free sales being an indirect form of support.

The abolition of duty-free sales, from 1 July 1999, would have serious economic and social consequences.

So, whether we like it or not, the completion of a real internal market must include the end to duty-free sales within the Community.

The key question here in political terms is the significance and future of duty-free sales within the Union.