MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS : MEPS SEEK PHASE-OUT OF ROAMING CHARGES IN 2016.

Members of the European Parliament are reshaping the telecoms package to make it more consumer-friendly in terms of contracts and roaming charges. Although there are numerous amendments, "they are not exorbitant and we are relatively close to a compromise," commented Pilar del Castillo (EPP, Spain), the EP rapporteur. The Committee on Industry (ITRE), the lead committee on this issue, examined the amendments on 22 January and plans to adopt the report itself on 25 February. The package will then move on to the plenary in April.(1)

With its 22 January adoption of an opinion by Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK), the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) set the tone on consumer policy.

Tackling the most 'saleable' subject, roaming, MEPs call for an end to extra charges for calls, text messages and data transfers between member states from July 2016. The idea is to align the new rules with the timeframe already set in the current roaming directives. This approach is defended by del Castillo. The Liberals argue that the cut-off date should be 1 July 2015. Harbour's personal view is that "it is not logical to amend legislation a year before its entry into force". He nevertheless sided with the majority of his committee, he explained.

REDUCTION OF WHOLESALE RATES

The European Commission's proposals are therefore swept aside. They gave operators an out: they could either offer free roaming or...