Brussels, 15/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the end of another trilogue, the European institutions (Commission, Parliament and Council) reached an agreement on international roaming tariffs. Tariff ceilings would be staggered over the three years during which regulations would be in force. For the first year, tariffs would be 49 eurocents for calls to numbers abroad, 24 eurocents for calls received abroad and 30 eurocents for wholesale tariffs. Then, for the second year, prices would be 46 eurocents, 22 eurocents and 28 eurocents respectively. Finally, for the third year, these would fall to 43, 19 and 26 eurocents respectively. We recall that the parliamentary committee on industry, research and energy had cast a majority vote last April for tariffs of 40, 15 and 23 eurocents.
Once the regulation has taken effect, mobile phone operators would have one month in which to make a new offer to their subscription holders. After being informed of the new offer, customers would have two months in which to accept or refuse it. If they refuse, the eurotariff would be automatically applied. David Hammerstein (Greens-EFA, Spain) welcomed the new system saying: “The opt-in system would have given suppliers the opportunity (…) to continue to apply their excessive tariffs. With today's compromise, the new tariffs should apply to most contracts, unless the consumer has decided otherwise”. Wholesale tariffs would take effect at the end of two months.
During the press conference following the debates, Joseph Muscat (PES, Malta) bemoaned the way negotiations had ended, saying: “We could have gone further”. Worse still, he even hinted that the agreement might not have the support of his political group. “For now, only one group has given the compromise its unconditional support (…) One cannot count on my group's support. I cannot commit myself on this package”.
The question is now therefore that of knowing whether MEPs and member states will endorse this compromise. This has to be the case, however, if Commissioner Viviane Reding's wish of seeing the new legislation enter into force by the summer break is to be fulfilled. The first stage will unfold from tomorrow starting with the meeting of the Council's working group. Then, on 21 May, the industry, research and energy committee of the European Parliament will vote on the compromise text. Three days later, the plenary vote will be held. (gc)