Today the European Parliament
voted to end roaming charges by Christmas 2015, as part of a wider vote
in support to the Commission’s proposed regulation for a “Connected
Continent” (telecoms single market)*.
European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said:
"This vote
is the EU delivering for citizens. This is what the EU is all about –
getting rid of barriers to make life easier and less expensive.”
“Nearly all
of us depend on mobile and internet connections as part of our daily
lives. We should know what we are buying, we should not be ripped-off,
and we should have the opportunity to change our mind. Companies should
have the chance to serve all of us, and this regulation makes it easier
for them to do that. It’s win-win.”
"In 2010 I promised to end roaming charges by the end of 2015, and now we are one step away from achieving that result."
"Beyond the
highly visible barrier of roaming we are now close to removing many
other barriers so Europeans can enjoy open, seamless communications
wherever they are"...
EU Member States will now
continue to review the regulation and the Commission expects final
agreement of the Regulation by end of 2014.
*The “Connected Continent”
telecoms Regulation was proposed by the Commission in September 2013. It
aims to bring us much closer to a truly single market for telecoms in
the EU, by ending roaming charges, guaranteeing an open internet for all
by banning blocking and degrading of content, coordinating spectrum
licensing for wireless broadband, giving internet and broadband
customers more transparency in their contracts, and making it easier for
customers to switch providers.
