The European Parliament voted to end roaming charges by Christmas 2015, as part of a wider vote in support the Commission’s proposed regulation for a “Connected Continent” (telecoms single market)*.
“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,” European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said.
“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,” she said.
“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,” she added.
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.
Tweets from @NeelieKroesEU today included:
“Find out more about the EU plan that is set to end #roaming + guarantee #NetNeutrality on Connected Continent webiste“
