The European Union (EU) has adopted rules that will cut the price of making mobile phone calls abroad in the 27-member bloc, the EU's German presidency said yesterday.

The rules, which the European Commission says will cut roaming charges to a quarter or a fifth of what consumers now pay, are expected to come into force by the end of this month.

'Today is a good day for Europe's consumers, because we hope that we will get the roaming thing finally off the table, so that European consumers will be able to telephone cheaply during the holidays,' said German economy minister Michael Glos.

Previously consumers faced charges ranging from €0.58 to over €5 per minute depending which country they were in.

The European Commission has been examining the high cost of roaming charges since 2000. Last year it accused mobile phone companies in Germany and the UK of charging excessive wholesale tariffs to other operators.