Brussels, 23/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - According to the Commissioner for the Digital Economy, Günther Oettinger, speaking on Monday 22 June, roaming charges in the European Union may come to an end in 2017. Addressing the German press on a visit to Bonn, the Commissioner explained: “The Commission, 28 member states and the European Parliament are very likely to reach an agreement on this subject soon”.
During the most recent Telecoms Council on 12 June, member states criticised the lack of flexibility of the European Parliament in the trialogue discussions on the last remaining points in the “telecoms” package, which still need to be negotiated: roaming and net neutrality. This disagreement led to the break down of the third trialogue (see EUROPE 11334). Although the EP turned down the possibility of attending a technical meeting planned for last week because it claimed it did not have enough time to finalise its position, another meeting is now planned for the beginning of next week, which according to the Latvian Presidency, will be attended by the European Commission.
It should be pointed out that the Council does not want the roaming costs to be ended before 2019, despite the fact that Parliament wanted them to come to an end in December 2016. An agreement is very likely to be found for an intermediary date that will be chosen during the course of 2017. (Isabelle Lamberty)