EU MPs back deal cutting mobile roaming fees

By Ingrid Melander

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - European Union MPs backed a plan on Wednesday to slash the cost of using mobile phones abroad in the 27-member bloc, part of a drive to win back support for the EU by addressing voters' concerns.

The executive European Commission said the mandatory caps on so-called roaming fees will cut prices to a quarter or a fifth of what citizens pay now for making and receiving calls in other member states.

"It's a great day for consumers, whether they are tourists or business travellers ... their telephone bills will melt away," EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding told MPs.

"The regulation will protect the vast majority of ordinary customers who up to now have been heavily overcharged when travelling abroad," she said.

The measure was passed by an overwhelming majority.

Mobile phone operators said they had already begun reducing prices, and complained the EU regulation would curb competition. Consumer associations had wanted lower caps and said prices had started to fall only because of the prospect of legislation.

Joachim Wuermeling, speaking for the German EU presidency, said he expected member states to give the final green light on June 29. That would give operators until the end of July to offer price caps and until the end of August to enforce them.

The legislation is part of a push by the EU to show it can bring real benefits to its 490 million citizens, many of whom complain Brussels is too remote from their daily lives.