End of roaming charges in the EU in 2017: Commission agrees on new approach to make it work for all Europeans

As announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union Address, Members of the College today discussed a revised draft of the rules needed to avoid abuses of the end of roaming charges in time for June 2017. They discussed a new approach to the ‘fair use’ principle and agreed that there should be no limits in terms of timing or volume imposed on consumers when using their mobile devices abroad in the EU. At the same time, the new approach provides a solid safeguard mechanism for operators against potential abuses. Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: “Parliament and Council agreed on our proposal to end roaming charges for travellers in the EU. Together we need to ensure low prices for users all across Europe, to make full use of new mobile services. European consumers would not accept it otherwise.” Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, said: “Commission action on roaming prices has delivered for European consumers. Today’s draft rules ensure we can end roaming charges as of 15 June 2017 for all people who travel periodically in the EU, while ensuring that operators have the tools to guard against abuse of the rules.” The College of Commissioners will adopt the final proposal by 15 December 2016, as foreseen in the Regulation on the end of roaming charges, following feedback from the Body of European Regulators in Electronic Communications (BEREC), Member States and all interested parties.