During the EP plenary session (12-15 June 2017) in Strasbourg, Pilar DEL CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES) and Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI), rapporteurs, express themselves on the end of roaming. Family picture with Antonio TAJANI, EP President

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

Strasbourg

del CASTILLO VERA, Pilar (EPP, ES)

roaming (T)

KUMPULA-NATRI, Miapetra (S&D, FI)

End of roaming fees: statement by rapporteurs Pilar DEL CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES) and Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI), rapporteurs, and family picture with Antonio TAJANI, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&amp;D, FI), Rapporteur, I am very happy that in the European Union, we all can now travel and not have to switch off our mobiles telephones. It&rsquo;s not only anymore telephone calls, or messages that one can enjoy, even in another EU country, but also use the data. That was very important for the European Parliament in the negotiations. We pushed down the wholesale (roaming) price on the data that companies pay to each other, so that the consumer can use a lot of data abroad in another EU country, even those with a very wide or unlimited data uses at home. It is important, as we can look at e-mails from work, or we can look the map where we are in our mobile phones, we can search for restaurants, cafeteria or cultural events, or we can maybe play some games on the mobile. So enjoy the roaming from June 15 onwards!

SOUNDBITE (Finnish), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&amp;D, FI), Rapporteur, The European Union has finally achieved the legislation on roaming.From 15.6.2017 you will not have any unpleasant surprises with the invoices of telephone operators when you travel to another EU country.This is the end of roaming costs.The parliament had a very important role and it was important for us to have a drop in the wholesale prices in the data between the operators.It is possible to use data with a mobile phone at no extra cost.If a trader gets a waiver, prices drop at least 85% or maybe it will have a small cap.You can use 10 giga abroad if it is not completely without limits.With this package all Finns can post on social media, look at the map, read professional emails or even play mobile games.After the summer you will see, when you travel in the single market in EU countries, that there are no more roaming costs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, It was thanks to the determination and political leadership of the European Parliament that we are now here, that we are now without roaming charges. It was an initiative of the European Parliament, after many years of regulation, it was at some moment of the initiative for the European Parliament to say: now is enough, now we must have the abolition of all kind of charges for roaming.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, It&rsquo;s for the benefit of all European people, it&rsquo;s for the benefit of all SME&rsquo;s and start-ups and a long etcetera. It&rsquo;s a long list of users, consumers, that are going to benefit from this. Benefit from one side, on the pockets, and we shall not forget this, but also it&rsquo;s another step forward I would say, in something much wider, the free movement in the EU.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, This is a happy day, we have to celebrate that the roaming charges are finally over. We are happy here in the EP but equally all European consumers should be happy, individuals and also all those who are going to benefit from the end of these overcharging fees.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pilar del CASTILLO VERA (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, Thanks to the determination of the European parliament and to the political leadership of the European Parliament we are here today. There will be no more charges for making phone calls, sending messages and access data from a different country that yours.

Family picture with both Rapporteurs, EP President Antonio TAJANI and participants of the Erasmus +30 event visiting the EP (3 shots)