Brussels, 12/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - After the vote by the European Parliament's committee on the internal market (EUROPE 9393), the committee on industry, research and energy made a surprising about-turn on 12 April when it adopted, by a large majority (45 votes to 3 and 1 abstention), the consolidated report by Paul Rübig (EPP, Austria) on international roaming charges. With Thursday's vote endorsed as such by the plenary and by the Council, mobile phone operators will have to reduce their tariffs far beyond what the Commission, the Council and even themselves had initially hoped, for both wholesale and retail prices.
For retail prices (the eurotariff), MEPs managed to reach a compromise. The cap would now be 40 cents for calls made abroad and 15 cents for mobile calls received abroad. Furthermore, the parliamentary committee comes into line with the position of the Council and European Commission declaring it is in favour of an opt-out system. This was a point of controversy among MEPs and was only adopted by a slim majority. The commutation system would therefore automatically apply to subscribers, both old and new. In this way, MEPs go beyond the comments made by the industry, which fears the system will entail higher costs. In addition to the eurotariff, operators could offer a monthly tariff or forfeit to cover all voice and data communication services (SMS and MMS) in mobile roaming. Operators would have one month to set the eurotariff in place after adoption of the regulation.
For wholesale prices, the tariff cap would be calculated by multiplying the MTR by a factor of 2, instead of 3 as was the case previously. The amount of the ceiling would thus be 22.82 cents. We would point out that the MTR corresponds to an average of the end charge for mobile calls for all 27 member states. Operators should set this cap in place as soon as it comes into force. The “must carry” obligation, which means operators are compelled to make their infrastructures and networks available, was also adopted.
Concerning information obligations, the consumer will receive a free SMS information call within one hour after crossing the Community border. Finally, a free number would be available to allow consumers to contact someone speaking their own language for any necessary information.
The idea of a stock exchange on which roaming minutes and/or bits are traded, that would make the future regulation obsolete, came up against the opposition of the parliamentary committee. The regulation, however, would expire three years after its entry into force, except if the Commission considers an extension necessary.
Although personally speaking Mr Rübig was “disappointed” by the adoption of the opt-out system that would, in his view, entail “drastic costs for the industry”, he told the press that he approved the outcome of the vote, saying that the Parliament thus shows its wish to help those who are most disadvantaged socially. He went on to add that, today, the European Parliament has shown its commitment to defending the rights of consumers throughout Europe. This is a very clear message, he went on to say, to the attention of European consumers and mobile telephony operators. The Austrian MEP believes there is now a good base for deliberations with the Council with a view to reaching a compromise which he feels can be envisaged as the Council's position is not so far removed from today's result. MEP Robert Goebbels (PES, Luxembourg) takes the view that adoption of this report is a “great victory”. He states even that the Socialist Group will be pushing for “prices that are better than those proposed by the industry committee”. Commissioner Viviane Reding, for her part, welcomed the way the Parliament's position has evolved, mainly with regard to the tariff caps and the automatic commutation system. “The death knoll is sounding for mobile roaming charges in Europe. (…) This solution was also that of the Commission”, she said, adding that this would stimulate “competition between mobile phone operators”.
The European Parliament will vote on the report during its plenary session on 9 May. European telecommunications ministers will take a stance at their meeting in Luxembourg on 7 June. Ms Reding now calls upon all European institutions, member states and national regulators to work together during the next few weeks to ensure that, this summer, consumers and not operators again reap the advantages of the new regulation. (gc)