EU Court Adviser: EU-Wide Cuts On Mobile Roaming Rates Valid
October 01 2009 - 4:37AM
Dow Jones News
A legal adviser to Europe's highest court Thursday recommended
the court uphold a Europe-wide law forcing mobile operators to cut
the rates they charge for using a mobile phone abroad.
Four of Europe's largest mobile telecom operators - Vodafone
Group Plc (VOD), Telefonica O2, T-Mobile and Orange - have
challenged the legal basis of the European Union's roaming
regulation, passed in 2007, which mandated a substantial reduction
in charges.
The regulation initially set a EUR0.49 cap for making calls and
EUR0.24 for receiving call when travelling abroad, with further
reductions annually to reach EUR0.35 and EUR0.11 respectively in
2011. It applies to all 27 countries in the European Union as well
as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Legal opinions such as this one are routinely prepared in cases
heard at the European Court of Justice. A legal adviser with the
title of Advocate General prepares a proposed ruling giving the
judges hearing the case a review of the evidence and a reasoned
argument from a fellow court member to consider. The opinion is not
always followed in the final judgment.
-By Mike Gordon, Dow Jones Newswires; +352 691 180 766;
mgordon.dowjones@gmail.com;