EU rejects roaming charges bid
9th June 2010
British tourists will be able to make more of their travel money in Europe after the European Commission (EC) announced further cuts in the cost of using a mobile phone abroad only hours after four major network operators lost a legal bid to prevent interference by Brussels.
O2, Orange, Vodafone and Telefonica had claimed that the EC had acted outwith its powers by imposing a uniform maximum "roaming" charge across the continent, a measure which could cut the cost of making or receiving a mobile call in another member state by up to 60%.
European Court of Justice judges in Luxembourg rejected the bid, though, saying the EC was justified to act in the interests of a competitive European Union (EU) single market and "to protect consumers against excessive prices ... even if it might have negative economic consequences for certain operators".
Public authorities and consumer protection associations across the EU felt the high charges had been a "persistent problem", the judgement stated. A bid to tackle the issue without changing existing rules "had not had the effect of lowering charges", it added.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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