“Politicians should be brave enough to take decisions that lead consumers to benefit from fair and sustainable prices,” Labour member of the European Parliament, Joseph Muscat said when delivering a keynote address at a high-level conference on mobile roaming charges organised by the Group of European Socialists in Brussels.

Other keynote speakers were European Commissioner Vivianne Reding, European Socialist leader Martin Schulz and Socialist vice-president in charge of economic issues, Robert Goebbels.

Mr Muscat is drafting a European Parliament report on a proposal that aims at cutting mobile roaming bills by more than half.

“There are governments, politicians and operators that are reluctant to deliver cuts in prices and are trying to scare off the public.

As European Socialists we will remain committed to our goal of giving consumers a fair deal, that is a good service at a fair and much lower price,” said Joseph Muscat.

The Maltese representative said that the weeks to come will show millions of people around Europe that European Socialists and the European Parliament stand for consumer rights.

During the same conference, Commissioner Reding thanked Joseph Muscat for his work in favour of the roaming initiative and urged the European Parliament to support the proposed regulation.

European Socialist leader, Martin Schulz criticised those governments which are trying to water down the proposal in the Council of Ministers.

He said that the roaming initiative is one of the group’s priorities for the coming months.