End to roaming

16.6.2015

Question for written answer E-009842-15
to the Council
Rule 130
Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)

On 20 September 2013, the Commission submitted its plan for a reform of the telecommunications market, aimed at developing a plan for roaming-free mobile communication in the EU. The Council recently decided to postpone the abolition of roaming charges until December 2018, more than three years later than the deadline proposed by the Commission and Parliament.

The 500 million European citizens do not understand why roaming should continue to exist, and it is important to make practical progress towards creating a single European telecommunications market. It is vital to reduce costs for European consumers who work, study or travel abroad, simplify the bureaucracy facing businesses and provide a series of new rights for both users and service providers.

Can the Council say what reasons led it to postpone the abolition of roaming charges?

Which countries are still posing obstacles to the abolition of roaming?

Does the Council consider it acceptable that roaming continues to exist, hampering the free movement of people, after so many announcements had been made?