AFTER lengthy negotiations a deal has been reached to end roaming charges in the EU by 2017. All roaming surcharges for travellers across the continent, whether for calls, texts or data, will be completely abolished as of June 15, 2017.

This will mean fewer nasty bill shocks and more freedom to use your phone when abroad. It is estimated after holidaying in Europe, UK mobile users pay on average £61 of roaming charges on top of their normal monthly bill.

Two years from now holidaymakers will be able to use their phones freely wherever they are in the EU. This shows how being in the EU means we can deliver a fairer, cheaper deal for British consumers and businesses.

But a roaming-free Europe will not only be good news for holidaymakers. With trade moving increasingly online, it will bring huge economic benefits including for the UK’s thriving e-commerce sector.

In an interim phase, fees will be capped in April next year at €0.05 per minute for calls, €0.02 for text messages and €0.05 per MB of data.

Liberals in the European Parliament have long campaigned to end rip-off roaming charges in the EU and ensure that mobile phone companies bring their business models into line with the digital era.

When given the opportunity to scrap rip-off roaming charges, UKIP voted against the proposal, effectively signalling to British consumers and businesses they are happy for them to have to pay rip-off roaming fees to the mobile phone operators.

It is important the British public sees the EU really is working for them and saving them money. At long last we can say goodbye to rip-off roaming charges.

Catherine Bearder is the Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East