By a close vote, an EP consumer protection panel Thurs. approved ...
By a close vote, an EP consumer protection panel Thurs. approved an EC plan to cap international mobile roaming charges. The “tight” vote likely signals a “lively debate” in plenary on whether consumers should have to opt in or…
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out of capped tariffs, Internal Market & Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee Chmn. Arlene McCarthy (U.K. Socialist) said. MEPs widely back roaming charge ceilings, but differ on how to calculate rates and offer them to consumers. The good news in the vote was “huge convergence” on consumer protection, said Maltese Socialist MEP and report author Joseph Muscat. But “the good news stops” there, he said. Roaming fees approved weren’t those he favors but tracked more closely to those proposed by govts. The Culture & Education Committee voted Thurs. to endorse the Commission proposal. The European People’s Party/European Democrats (EPP/ED), the largest bloc, said the tariff -- 50 euro cents to make an international roaming call, 25 cents to receive one -- “will become the benchmark against which all other roaming offers will be compared in terms of price,” ending the “rip-off” of consumers. Parliament’s industry committee votes on its report on the proposal April 12 before the May plenary. Telecom ministers will consider the draft directive June 7.