Brussels, 29/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 28 March, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers reached agreement in a first reading of the new regulation on roaming. The text includes price ceilings lower than those set out by the European Commission in its proposal, just as the Parliament wanted (see EUROPE 10584). The political groups are generally delighted with the agreement.
S&D: the group of Socialists and Democrats welcomed the end to the “roaming rip-off”. They were pleased with the final result of the regulation's review because it meets their main objectives - setting out a deadline (2016) for the application of roaming costs and a drastic reduction in prices in the meantime. Speaking for the S&D, Robert Goebbels MEP and negotiator (Luxembourg) said: “We have been paying absurd rates for too long… we want to see an end to roaming because it makes no sense to have artificial borders in a single market. We could not obtain it now but it will happen in 2016.” “The reduction in date roaming prices is a pre-condition for a digital Europe”, added Vice-President of the S&D Group Marita Ulvskog (Sweden).
EPP: Roza Thun MEP (Poland) and deputy negotiator on roaming welcomed the price cuts obtained by the Parliament and emphasised that “by lowering gradually the maximum prices in transactions between mobile operators, as well as by opening up the market to new entrants, and thereby increasing competition, consumers will clearly feel the benefits.” “We have brought about more competition in the market to put an end to the ripping off of consumers”, added rapporteur Angelika Niebler MEP.
ALDE: Liberals and Democrats were satisfied overall with the result obtained on the dossier. The rapporteur for the previous regulation “Roaming 2”, Adina Valean (Romania) regretted, however, that the “Local Break-Out” had not entirely been taken into account. She said that she regretted that “the Parliament was not able to ensure a clear obligation for operators to allow local use data services when abroad as I proposed and as adopted by the ITRE committee”.
Greens-EFA: the Greens/European Free Alliance said that the text could have gone further in reducing ceilings. Speaking on behalf of the group, Philippe Lamberts from Belgium stated: “The artificial difference between domestic and roaming prices remains far too high and we regret that it was not possible to ensure more realistic prices for European consumers.” He also said that there had clearly been room for further cutting retail prices for roaming. He concluded by regretting that they still needed to “wait for another review to finally end the outrageous roaming rip-off”.
ECR: British Conservative, Giles Chichester, participated in the negotiations and stated: “It is outrageous that consumers are still paying exorbitant prices when using their phone abroad.” The MEP was delighted with the choices now possible for consumers, enabling them to choose one operator instead of another when they travel in European countries. Nonetheless, he regretted that European legislation is necessary to force prices downwards, an initiative which the industry should take itself.
In a press release, Tom Ruhan, the director of ECTA, an organisation that represents the interests of new operators, considers that continuing with a system of retail ceiling prices is undoubtedly the most reasonable solution to attain the objective set out in the Digital Agenda, namely bringing domestic and roaming prices closer together. ECTA is pleased with the structural measures adopted, particularly with regard to opening up the market to new operators, which will enable virtual operators to provide roaming services. (IL/transl.fl)