Changes are expected in the near future in the charges of the cost of calls from the landline or mobile phone within the EU, but also in the cross-border charges in the calls made from mobile phones.
ΣIn the first case, months ago, the European Parliament approved the package of measures to reduce call costs between EU countries. both in terms of mobile, but also in landline phone. The reductions concern calls from one country to another and will be implemented from May 19, 2019.
- Maximum charge for call from landline or mobile from Member State to Member State: EUR 0,19 per minute of talk time.
- Cost of text messages 0,06 euros per message.
It is noted that roaming charges have been abolished since 2017.
According to the announcement: "The EP has approved the telecommunications package which limits the prices of calls within the EU, enables access to state-of-the-art 5G networks by 2020 and creates a new emergency warning system.
The new rules will provide citizens with high-speed connections and make calls secure and affordable within the EU, while providing the necessary predictability for telecom operators to boost investment in high-speed internet.
No more excessive charges on cross-border payments
In the meantime, the European Parliament On Thursday, it adopted new rules to eliminate discrimination against payment service users outside the Eurozone, a move that also applies to cross-border charges on mobile calls.
While consumers in the euro area benefit from the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), those living abroad continue to pay high costs for cross-border payments in euro.
Within one year, charges for cross-border payments in euros within the EU must go hand in hand with charges for national payments made in the official local currency ("equal charge" rule). In addition, Member States are free to impose on banks rules for the use of equal charges in cross-border and non-euro domestic payments.
The new measures will also protect consumers from arbitrary charges for foreign exchange conversions, the European Parliament explains. In each transaction, they will be informed of the amount to be paid in local currency and in the currency of their account. To make conversion rates more transparent, there will be a single basis for calculating foreign exchange conversion charges for point-of-sale or ATM payments (ECB + x% reference rate, with maximum interest rates set separately by banks).
Consumers will receive an online promotional notification, such as SMS, e-mail or notification via the app mobile telephony or the payer's web banking application regarding applicable currency conversion charges. These notification services will be offered free of charge.
Banks should also disclose the estimated full cost of currency conversion in case of bank transfers before the payment is made.
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