The European Union has published draft legislation that will lower mobile phone roaming charges.

International roaming allows mobile phone users to make and receive calls and text messages while travelling abroad. Each nationally-based mobile operator has established agreements with overseas networks that allow its customers to use their mobile phones in many countries around the world, providing their handset is compatible with those networks.

But consumers and regulators have long complained that the charges imposed for international roaming are excessively high and in October 2005 the Commission called on operators to reduce their charges.

According to the Commission, even though special roaming packages are offered by some operators, these have not been widely taken up by consumers since most of these tariffs are offered on an opt-in basis or may have an additional monthly charge attached to them.

The Commission revealed that six months later, when updating the website, the price for a standard four-minute call has generally remained at the same high level and in some cases has increased.

If the bill is passed by MEPs it will limit the costs charged between mobile phone companies for roaming calls, the major source of roaming charges.

The legislation also aims to remove the extra cost of receiving a call when abroad. The final measure is to introduce what they call the 'home pricing principle'.

If someone is to make a call in a foreign country to a number in that country, they will only pay the ordinary charge, with no roaming charge on top.

If the legislation is accepted, it could become law before next summer.

The EU said the update to its website with information about roa ming will also help consumers to find the best tariff for making calls abroad.

The website gives sample tariffs showing the differences between different operators and advice for keeping the price down as much as possible. UK communications regulator Ofcom has similar advice.

However the EU's plans have met with criticism by the industry group the GSM Association, which claims that the price limits will eventually harm consumers. It said that its members have been dropping prices and outside intervention could upset consumers in the long run.

Mobile phone roaming charges by country and operator

Prices taken from www.Onecompare.com apart from the Virgin prices, that are from the monthly tariff

Additional reporting by Dinah Greek