Negotiators from the Council of the EU and the European Parliament met on Tuesday 26 October to start inter-institutional (‘trilogue’) negotiations on extending free data roaming within the EU for 10 years (see EUROPE 12819/7).
The majority of the discussions related to the issue of wholesale price capping. On this matter, a source close to the dossier told EUROPE, the EU Council would like to set the price per gigabyte abroad at €1.50. The European Parliament and some northern EU Member States are more in favour of a €1 tariff.
The European Parliament also stressed the importance of working on intra-European calls. On this point, the idea is to put an end to overtaxed calls between two EU countries. However, operators may decide, in a justified and objective manner, to add additional charges.
In addition, Polish MEP Róża Thun und Hohenstein (EPP) explained to members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), which acts as an associated committee, “some specific points have been delegated at technical level”.
“Experts from the Parliament, the Commission and the Slovenian Presidency of the Council will meet to work out a technical architecture on this issue”, she added, without giving further details on the aspects concerned.
These experts will have to report back to the members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), which is responsible for this dossier, as well as to the other associated committees, before the next trilogue, scheduled for 16 November.
The current system of abolishing roaming charges will expire on 30 June 2022 (see EUROPE 12665/9). (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)