Roaming deal must be in place for summer holidays, demand Conservative MEPs
Posted, May 23, 2007 @ 16:00
Strasbourg, 23 May 2007 -- A massive boost to mobile phone users was agreed today in the European Parliament as formal caps for mobile phone charges were approved for international roaming calls.
Conservatives, who succeeded in getting text price warnings, are now pressing the British Trade and Industry Secretary to lobby the Council of Ministers to pass the law before the summer holidays to maximise the benefits for British mobile phone users, said Giles Chichester MEP, Conservative Industry Spokesman in the European Parliament.
His call follows today's vote, which will see prices for making calls while abroad capped at 33 pence per minute in the first year, 31 pence in the second and 29 pence in the third. Price caps for receiving calls would be set at 16 pence in the first year, 15 pence in the second and 13 pence in the third.
Giles Chichester, who is also coordinator of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, said:
"I am delighted that this proposal will protect innocent consumers going on holiday in parts of Europe from receiving a nasty surprise in their mobile phone bill on their return."
Malcolm Harbour MEP, co-ordinator in the Internal Market Committee, played a key role in brokering the roaming agreement.
He says:
"Consumers wanted a better deal from the EU single market. We listened to them and we have delivered. This will be a real boost for small companies across Europe."