Mobile phone roaming charges in the EU will cease at the end of next year.

The European Parliament today voted to abolish the extra costs from December 2015, which will mean Irish people can make calls from anywhere in the EU for the same cost as a call in Ireland.

It comes after years of protracted negotiations with mobile phone companies across Europe.

Peter Power is from the EU office in Dublin. He says from December next year, Irish people can make calls from anywhere in the European Union for the same cost as a call in Ireland.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said "Nearly all of us depend on mobile and internet connections as part of our daily lives. We should know what we are buying, we should not be ripped-off, and we should have the opportunity to change our mind".

"Companies should have the chance to serve all of us, and this regulation makes it easier for them to do that. It's win-win" she added.

EU Member States will now continue to review the regulation - and the Commission expects final agreement by the end of 2014.

This was originally proposed by the EU Commission in September 2013, and is aimed at creating a single telecoms market in the EU.

This move comes just a month after the European Parliament voted in favour of legislation which requires mobile phone manufacturers to make compatible chargers.