WRITTEN QUESTION E-2648/00 by W. G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. International roaming charges for mobile telephones.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, exchange of information, fixing of prices, mobile phone, telecommunications, telephone, telephone charges

C 113 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Reply

(16 November 2000)

The Council refers the Honourable Member to the answer on his question number E-2295/00.

(2001/C 113 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2645/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Committee of Experts on reform of the Commission

Is the Commission in a position to assess the overall cost of the task carried out by the Committee of
Independent Experts on reform of the Commission, possibly by requesting some data from Parliament(cid:146)s
Administration?

In accordance with the objective of transparency recommended by the experts, can the Commission list
the allowances, travel and subsistence expenses and other emoluments received individually by the five
experts?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

It was Parliament which determined the financial and practical
Committee of Independent Experts set up following Parliament(cid:146)s resolution of 14 January 1999.

implications of the activities of the

In accordance with Parliament(cid:146)s wishes, the Commission agreed,
Committee(cid:146)s expenses, with Parliament handling the operational management of the contracts involved.

to defray half of the

in principle,

On the basis of statements of expenditure from Parliament, the Commission made an initial payment of
€ 75 256.62 to cover the phase of the Committee(cid:146)s activities ending in March 1999. The costs to be borne
by the Commission for the second phase come to € 101 377.43: the funding procedure is about to be
wrapped up.

It should be borne in mind that Parliament directly covered all the Committee(cid:146)s operating costs and
provided various contributions in kind (offices, office supplies, telecommunication and computer infra-
structure, and secretarial services). The Commission would therefore suggest that the Honourable Member
ask Parliament to provide comprehensive information on all the costs arising from the activities of the
Committee of Independent Experts.

(2001/C 113 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2648/00

by W. G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: International roaming charges for mobile telephones

(1 August 2000)

In June 2000 in a resolution (A5-0258/00) the European Parliament expressed its concern at international
roaming charges for mobile telephone users. The Commission had previously announced an investigation
into this matter.

1. What stage has been reached in the Commission investigation into high roaming charges?

Can the Commission confirm that in the case of certain operators the top 5 % of international

2.
roaming clients account for 70 % of profits in this area?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/143

3.

(a) What legal measures is the Commission taking in order to reduce roaming charges, and thus
costs to the public, not least in view of Parliament(cid:146)s resolution of 18 May 2000 (A5-0231/00) and the
resolution of 13 June 2000 (A5-0258/00) (recital E, first indent) in which Parliament expresses the
view that these charges are too high?

(b) When does the Commission intend to complete this work?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

1.
On 27 July 1999 the Commission opened sector inquiries into three different areas of telecommu-
nications that are characterised by pricing anomalies: mobile roaming, leased lines, and local loop access
(unbundling). The Commission notes that Parliament resolution R5-0258/00 of 13 June 2000 shares its
concern that important mobile markets do not appear to be subject to effective competition. The mobile
markets that are apparently not subject to effective competition are the wholesale markets for roaming and
call termination, as well as the retail markets for mobile services based on these wholesale prices, and the
market for mobile international calls.

For practical reasons, the three sector inquiries were launched successively. As part of the roaming sector
inquiry, in January 2000 formal information requests were sent out to all mobile operators and service
providers in the Community, as well as to the national authorities in all Member States (see IP/00/111 of
4 February 2000). Additional requests for information have been sent to undertakings that responded in
an incomplete or incorrect manner. At present, the responses submitted to the formal information requests
are being processed and analysed. Based on co-operation under the European economic area (EEA)
Agreement, and on a parallel
investigation carried out by the European fair trade association (EFTA)
Surveillance Authority, the analysis involved will cover the entire EEA.

The Commission expects to complete its internal report on the roaming sector inquiry in October 2000.
At the end of November 2000, an expert meeting will take place with national authorities to discuss the
findings of the inquiry, and their follow-up.

2.

3.

The Commission cannot confirm the existence of such a ratio based on its findings so far.

(a) There are clear indications that the general price levels of mobile roaming rates cannot be
explained on technical grounds (e.g. mobile network costs), which is one of the main reasons why the
Commission decided to initiate its sector inquiry into these rates. Because the ongoing investigation is
based on the Community competition rules the Commission cannot reduce roaming prices in any
general or abstract sense. Instead, a determination whether particular roaming prices are in fact
excessive or discriminatory must be made in individual competition cases. Any subsequent findings of
infringements will have to be based on the facts found in those individual cases and cannot be
prejudged.

(b) After completing its general assessment of the roaming sector inquiry findings in October, the
Commission will decide on the appropriate follow up to this sector inquiry in November. However,
the Commission may decide to open individual cases at any time if sufficiently grave prima facie
evidence of infringements is found.

(2001/C 113 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2655/00

by Diana Wallis (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Interception systems in the area of EU telecommunications

In the European Parliament(cid:146)s confirmation hearing on Tuesday, 31 August 1999, Commissioner Liikanen
states that (cid:145)it is extremely important for us, of course, as was noted in the debate in Parliament last Spring,
that the values of European society are retained in the new system and that we do not accept the built-in
interception systems in our telecommunication area(cid:146).