In June 2017, the last few days of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, were marked by the end of roaming charges when occasionally travelling (as long as you spend more time at home than abroad) across the EU. The so called Roaming Regulation was based on the Roam-Like-At-Home principle.   

Mobile operators have since then, applied a ‘fair use policy’ to ensure that all roaming customers have access to and benefit the ‘roam-like-at-home’ rules. This means that operators have since then applied fair, reasonable and proportionate control mechanisms to avoid customers abusing any rules.  

This has given EU travellers the opportunity to travel outside their country to other EU Member States and not pay any additional charges to use their mobile phones.  This concept applies both to any calls or text messages one sends and receives.  

The European Commission is now conducting an EU-wide exercise to re-assess and review the Regulation. The underlying concept here is more linked to enhancing future policies in relation to roaming rather than abolishing taken decisions which have so far proved to be very popular with European citizens.  

The online consultation is open until 11 September and anyone may provide feedback through this link.