"The European citizens can let out a sigh of relief: the European regulations on roaming will become a binding law in all of the member states. I hope this puts an end to exorbitant roaming rates". Viviane Reding, Commissioner for telecommunication, resumes an issue that saw her working over the last few months to obtain reasonable consumer rates for international calls from and to mobile phones. With the publication of the regulations on roaming on the EU Official Journal, these lower rates will come into force across the EU "in time for the summer holidays", i.e. on June 30th. The new EU regulations set forth a maximum limit for the euro-rate: 0.49 euros plus VAT for outgoing international calls and 0.24 for incoming ones. "The service providers explains the Luxemburgeois MEP will have to compete with each other below these maximum rates, which will be further reduced in 2008 and 2009". The law-making process had begun on July 12th last year. Now, "the national law-making authorities, along with the EU Commission, will monitor the transition to the new roaming regulations to prevent breaches".
