Some governments attempts to postpone the end of roaming fees across the European Union were unacceptable and a setback to consumers, MEP Roberta Metsola said.

She joined MEPs from across the political divide to send a letter to all EU telecommunications ministers, appealing to them not to postpone the end to mobile phone roaming charges (see attached pdf link).

Dr Metsola, who is a member of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, has long called for an end to roaming fees in Europe.

Last year, the European Parliament adopted a report calling for roaming charges to end by December 15 this year.

“We are now seeing attempts by governments to backtrack and attempt to delay the end of the charges by a longer number of years. This demonstrates lack of ambition. Roaming charges are part of an outdated business model and have no place in today's connected Europe. We need to ensure Europe has a true digital single market," she said.

Dr Metsola said that important net neutrality principles should likewise not be weakened.

“We need to be determined to ensure that any legislation we have is fully in tune with the reality of the times," she said.

Dr Metsola called for the Maltese government to make its position on the issue clear.

"I hope that Malta will be one of the countries pushing for real reform in this sector and backing our call to end roaming fees by December of this year," she said.