The 16th meeting of the European Regulators Group (ERG) was held on 8 February in Paris, where the main topic was the issue of international roaming costs. The ERG stressed that it is aware of consumer concerns regarding the excessive price for receiving and making mobile phone calls using foreign networks and that it is thus working jointly with the European Commission to examine possible responses to the situation.
At the meeting, the European Commissioner for Information Society and the Media, Viviane Reding, announced the intention to introduce new community rules to link the prices for international roaming services to national roaming prices. This regulation, which would be an internal market regulation instrument based on article 95 of the EC Treaty, could take force in 2007.
The ERG?s response regarding the European Commission?s revision of the regulatory framework for electronic communications was discussed. The group also approved the annual report referring to 2005 activities and appointed Roberto Viola, secretary general of the Italian regulator, as ERG president for 2007.
The next meeting will be held on 18-19 May in Vienna.
