MEP Martina Anderson says deadline on roaming charges must be enforced

SINN Féin MEP Martina Anderson has called on the European Council to enforce a new deadline for the abolition of mobile phone roaming charges. 

The Derry politician said:

“Last year the European Commission agreed to scrap roaming charges by December this year, however the European Council then halted that decision and pushed the date back to December 2018.

“That delay was unacceptable to us and would have led to people living and working in border areas being hit with unfair roaming charges for another three years.

“Matt Carthy and I met with senior officials from the European Council last week to call for a complete end to roaming charges as soon as possible.

“Today’s decision by the European Council to bring forward the date for abolition of roaming charges is welcome but unfortunately they will still be in place until June 2017.

“The onus is now on the European Council to ensure this deadline is adhered to so that customers, particularly those in border areas, are not penalised by unfair charges beyond that date.”