Background
The EU Roaming Regulation of 2007 currently limits the amount operators can charge customers for roaming calls in other EU countries to €0.46 per minute for calls made abroad and to €0.22 per minute for calls received abroad (excluding VAT) (IP/08/1276). In 2005 - before the EU intervened - the average charge for a roaming call was €1.10 per minute.
Following a specific request of the European Parliament and Council, the EU Roaming Regulation requires the Commission to review the development of roaming calls, text messages and data services in 2008 and propose an extension if needed. In June 2008, a study showed that high prices (typically ranging from €5 to €10 per megabyte) and a lack of transparency were slowing the take up of data roaming services in the EU (IP/08/1048). In August 2008, the cost of sending a text message abroad was reported at €0.29 without any change compared to the situation one year ago, in spite of repeated calls from the Commission for industry self-regulation (IP/08/1144).
The Commission's proposal and impact assessment, along with a comprehensive guide to the cost of roaming in the 27 EU Member States, are available at:
