The maximum charge for mobile phone calls in Europe has fallen again, thanks to the European Commission’s 2009 ruling on mobile phone charges.

From 1st July 2009, customers on standard mobile tariffs had their text message charges within the EU capped at a maximum of €0.11 excl. VAT. The maximum cost for making calls was capped at €0.43 per minute and receiving calls was capped at €0.19 per minute.

These maximum call charge rates fell again in 2010 and, in accordance with the original ruling, have dropped once more from 1st July 2011.

Consumers on any standard UK tariff will now receive the so-called ‘Eurotariff’ of no more than 35 cents per minute for calls made (38p incl. VAT) and 11 cents (12p incl. VAT) per minute for calls received while abroad in the EU.

Customers who’ve chosen a special roaming tariff option from their network – such as Vodafone Passport or Orange Favourite Countries – are excluded from the capped charges. Consumers and business travellers will continue to be protected by a monthly limit of €50 for data downloading unless another figure has been agreed.

Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda, said “These new price caps will temporarily reduce retail prices for making and receiving voice calls when in another EU country during the coming year. But we have to tackle roaming problems at the root with a long lasting structural approach. The Commission will therefore be coming forward very shortly with comprehensive new proposals for long-term solutions to address the underlying problem of lack of competition in roaming markets.”

The current EU Roaming Regulation expires at the end of June 2012.