EU to Demand an End to Roaming Charges?

March 26, 2006 - source: BWCS

The EU may call for an end to mobile roaming charges within Europe. European Union member countries are due to produce a statement on this issue on Friday 24th March, at the end of the current two-day summit.

The proposal to scrap, or greatly reduce, roaming charges for EU citizens who are calling to or from another European country, came from Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern. It certainly chimes with a long-standing complaint from the EU that mobile companies charge too much for the right to use mobile phones in other European countries.

Ahearn argued that such a proposal would show citizens the EU was working in their interests. Quoted by the Irish press a spokesperson for the Irish government said "The Austrian presidency (of the EU) has agreed to an Irish insertion in the conclusions tomorrow to pursue the elimination or reduction of roaming charges across the European Union." Austria, which currently holds the European presidency, has indicated its support.

EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding, is due to present an update on roaming charges and outline new regulations covering these services on Tuesday 26th March. She has already indicated that her view is that roaming charges are too high and looks set to act, despite assurances from operators that they are actively reducing their fees for overseas calls.

In July last year the European Commission declared that it was unhappy with roaming charges and did not believe that they reflected effective competition. It warned the operators then that it would take action.