Brussels, 03/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - As Commissioner Viviane Reding herself had announced last week, on 3 April the European Commission opened the second and last phase in consultation on the draft regulation on roaming that it plans to present to the College of Commissioners for adoption in June (see EUROPE 9162). Parties interested have until 12 May to state their views on the new regulation. The aim is to compel mobile telephone operators to bring their charges down from summer 2007, if the regulation is rapidly approved by the Council and European Parliament, as Viviane Reding would like. “Reducing roaming charges is crucial for Europe's competitiveness. Using your mobile phone abroad must stop providing a pretext for excessive charges, and instead become an attractive service”, she repeated. Non-confidential information on the first phase of consultation (20 February-22 March-) and the formula on the second phase are available on the Commission's website concerning international roaming: http: //europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm.