European Commission (EC) vice president Neelie Kroes has unveiled plans to end mobile roaming charges. The new legislation is an effort towards net neutrality and it focusses on creating a single telecoms market for all European carriers by 2014. Addressing members of the European Parliament, Kroes said, “In telecoms, of all sectors, there is no place for borders. It’s called a world wide web for a reason. There is no other sector of our incomplete European single market where the barriers are so unneeded, and yet so high.” If the legislation passes, this will give more liberty to travellers in Europe who already enjoy low mobile roaming fees across the continent.
We can’t afford in Europe all the countless, needless, artificial obstacles placed in the way of a telecoms single market
— Neelie Kroes (@NeelieKroesEU) May 30, 2013
The legislation is set to be presented to the European Parliament today. It argues for a single telecoms market which will benefit the continent by boosting digital economy. The Netherlands which is Kroes’ home country was pass the first net neutrality laws in the EU back in May 2012. “I want us to show citizens that the EU is relevant to their lives. That we made the digital rules catch up with their legitimate expectations. I want you to be able to go back to your constituents and say that you were able to end mobile roaming costs. I want you to be able to say that you saved their right to access the open internet, by guaranteeing net neutrality,” Kroes says in her speech. The campaign already enjoys support from many European governments.
image credits: flothea.com
