You can't escape VAT as a consumer if you live in Europe!
Anything sold to an EU resident has VAT applied to it at some point in the chain, either at the point of import or the point of sale to the end buyer. The rate of VAT is dependant on which country it is being sold out of (UK currently has rate of 20%). The VAT collected from the sale is then passed onto the local government by the importer/retailer.
If you are VAT registered and sell to a non EU resident then you do not have to charge VAT if you can prove the export.
At least this is my understanding of the system as a VAT registered individual!
At least at the very consumer-end of the purchase, "essentials" (in the UK at least) don't have VAT applied there, nor do things being sold to people who need them due to a disability (provided that can be proved).