Mobile roaming deal edges closer

6.13.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th May 2007

Parliament and Council negotiators concluded a lengthy informal trialogue today in an attempt to strike a deal on mobile phone roaming charges barely a year since the Commission launched its formal proposal.

The compromise deal on the table would offer a sliding retail tariff level of €0.49 for calls made in the first year, falling to €0.46 in the second year and €0.43 in the third before expiring and allowing the free market to function freely. Received calls would be charged at €0.24, €0.22 and €0.19 over the same timeframe.

The two sides also reached a middle road on the controversial issue of whether to automatically provide all customers with the new Euro Protection Tariff (unless they opted out of it) or to give them the option to opt into it. The proposal would now give all customers the opportunity to opt in to the new rate within 2 months (though Council would still prefer 3 months). If they do not react within that period they would be assigned the EPT rate unless they had already accepted a special package offered by their phone company prior to this Regulation entering into force.

Graham Watson (ALDE group leader) reacted to news of the latest proposal:

"It is clear that only the threat of regulation is forcing the hand of operators to reduce prices. As a rule Liberals oppose regulating prices through legislation. For a very limited period of 3 years, we would be prepared to make an exception in order to establish a competitive market in mobile roaming charges."

"This latest offer may not be perfect, but we should not make the best the enemy of the good."

Sarunas Birutis MEP (DP, Lithuania) who was part of Parliament's negotiating team on behalf of ALDE commented:

"This is a package offer. There is still room for some improvements and clarification on the deadlines for responding to the tariff choices. But it is a package I would recommend that Liberals and Democrats support as I cannot see a significantly improved offer being possible if we continue negotiations into a second and third reading with the main disadvantage being delaying the entry into force of the legislation."

Karin Riis-Jorgensen MEP (Venstre, Denmark), ALDE shadow on the Internal Market committee also responded positively to the emerging consensus:

"From the beginning I have defended the position that offers the best outcome for consumers. The present compromise will offer the lowest tariffs for roaming customers, whether one they already have from their operator or the European Tariff applicable for 3 years, after which time we should have a real market in mobile roaming across Europe."

"Parliament still needs to confirm this recommendation from its negotiating team and Council must also decide on 7th June but I am sure we will have broad support for a package along the lines proposed today."