Roaming rules hit obstacle

An attempt by the German presidency of the EU to get agreement on a swift introduction of caps on mobile phone roaming charges is set to founder at a meeting of EU diplomats next week (14 May).

The German government’s approach is outlined in a compromise text seen by European Voice, which was discussed by member states on Tuesday (8 March).

The Commission, national governments and MEPs have yet to reach agreement on the level at which the charges should be capped and how the new tariffs should be implemented.

The German government, which would like the new agreement in place for the summer, has already raised the caps on rates from the level wanted by MEPs on the Parliament’s industry, research and energy committee.

It is now trying to formulate a compromise on how the caps should be introduced.

The proposals from the Commission last year set a three-month period for introducing caps. In an attempt to win the support of socialist MEPs, the presidency has suggested that within one month of the rules coming into effect customers should be given the opportunity to switch to ‘Eurotariff’. The customers would have to respond during the first three months of the new regime. The new tariff would take effect immediately they had made their choice known.

Socialist MEPs are opposed to the so-called opt-in approach whereby consumers would have to request to switch to regulated tariffs. They and the Commission believe that consumers should be automatically switched to the new ‘Eurotariff’.

But some member states doubt whether the German presidency’s approach is practicable.

"It’s clear to everyone we need to get closer to Parliament," said an EU diplomat of the fast-track method. "But member states have serious concerns. For logistical reasons it wouldn’t be possible to have it [Eurotariff] in force before a certain number of months."

The UK, which has been pushing for the opt-in, was unconcerned about a possible delay.

"We said all along that we didn’t specify in terms of timing. Our warning was that people shouldn’t get an inferior deal to the one they have," said a UK diplomat.

Under pressure from the UK, France and Spain, the presidency has raised caps to €0.60 per minute for making mobile calls abroad and €0.30 per minute for receiving a call. MEPs had previously voted to cap charges at 0.40 per minute for making calls and €0.15 per minute for receiving calls.

David Pringle, a spokesman for industry lobby the GSM Association, strongly opposed the fast-track procedure. "It’s just not practical," he said. "There are hundreds of thousands of consumers throughout Europe and moving them onto a new package overnight is just not realistic."

According to an EU diplomat, at a meeting of diplomats next week (14 May) the presidency will be forced to scrap the approach discussed on Tuesday. The entire package including tariffs and the revised opt-in approach is to be presented the following day (15 May) to officials from Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

"Many delegations insisted that this should be looked at as a package," said the EU diplomat. "You can’t look at the question of opt-in or opt-out in isolation from tariffs. Of course, we have to look at this as a package. Delegations looking at the opt-in, opt-out would expect to get something on tariffs."

MEPs will vote on the new version of proposals later this month at a full session of Parliament (21-24 May).

An attempt by the German presidency of the EU to get agreement on a swift introduction of caps on mobile phone roaming charges is set to founder at a meeting of EU diplomats next week (14 May).