The new EU plan to abolish mobile phone roaming charges across Europe will save British holidaymakers money, says Business for New Europe. The pro-European business campaign was commenting on the provisional deal reached in Brussels last night to eliminate all roaming charges on calls, texts or data by June 2017. The parties also agreed to cut roaming charges to a maximum of just €0.05 per minute per call by 2016 as an interim step. Member states and the EU institutions also reached agreement on a net neutrality package to protect personal data.
 
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Roaming charges are one of the hidden costs of the summer holiday, so it is brilliant that that these could be scrapped after 2017. It's a great example of Europe working together to cut costs and stand up for consumers to stop them being ripped off.
 
“Holidays are much cheaper and easier thanks to Europe: the cost of flights has come down 40% and borderless travel has removed the need for visas. Pulling out of Europe would simply mean that Britons would cease to enjoy the advantages of being in.”

Notes to editors
See the European Commission explanation of the changes here: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5275_en.htm


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