EU bond strengthens by abolishing mobile roaming across Europe
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BRUSSELS (AFP) - The EU on Thursday rang in the end of roaming charges for Europeans using mobile phones within the bloc, in what under-pressure Brussels hailed as one of its greatest successes.
A decade in the making, the move comes in time for the summer holidays when millions of Europeans will be on the move, and is a public relations coup at a time when the bloc is under fire over Brexit and other problems.
It means Europeans calling, texting or using the internet when travelling in other EU nations will be charged the same as they are at home, instead of grossly inflated prices leading to "bill shock" on their return.
"The European Union is about bringing people together and making their lives easier. The end of roaming charges is a true European success story," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and European Parliament head Antonio Tajani said in a statement.
"From now on, citizens who travel within the EU will be able to call, text and connect on their mobile devices at the same price as they pay at home. Eliminating roaming charges is one of the greatest and most tangible successes of the EU."
The change covers the whole of the 28-nation bloc as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which are not EU members but part of the affiliated European Economic Area.
"I think it s great. It makes it easier to be on vacation and to be able to use my phone anywhere," said Vebjorn Kallelid, 20, a Norwegian tourist on holiday in Stockholm.
