The European Council and the European Parliament have paved the way for the adoption of the draft regulation on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the EU.

The objective is to establish a common approach to ensure that users of public mobile communication networks do not pay excessive prices for Union-wide roaming services when travelling within the Union.

The text as it stands now was negotiated in trialogue meetings between the Danish presidency, the European Parliament and the European Commission. Today it was endorsed by the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Council.

To enter into force it still needs formal approval in the Parliament (in May by the plenary) and in the Council (after the plenary vote in Parliament).

The new legislation revises the current regulation by introducing pro-competitive structural measures and extending its validity until 30 June 2022.

The structural measures introduced by this regulation aim to tackle the lack of competition and consumer choice, which leads to high roaming prices.

From 1 July 2014, customers will be allowed to sign up for an alternative mobile roaming offer, separate from their contract for national mobile services, whilst using the same phone number.

The regulation sets out the conditions for wholesale access to public mobile communications networks to provide roaming services. In addition, in order to allow alternative operators to enter the roaming market, the regulation allows for a reasonable margin between the tariff ceilings for wholesale and retail prices.

The regulation also lays down rules aimed at increasing price transparency and improving the provision of information on charges to roaming customers.

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