Operator executives have reacted angrily after the Financial Times (FT) drew their attention to unpublished draft legislation from Neelie Kroes, the EU digital commissioner, which seeks to scrap roaming charges by next year.

According to the newspaper, one telecoms executive described Kroes’ calls for a single European market, which includes the phasing out of roaming fees, as a “headline grabbing move” that will undermine investment in networks and services.

The FT cites a study commissioned by ETNO, a lobby group representing Europe’s large operators, which concludes that the abolition of roaming fees and the imposition of EU-wide packages would cut mobile operators’ cash flow by up to €7 billion by 2020.

“Difference between roaming and domestic tariffs [charged by mobile carriers within the 28 country bloc] should approach zero,” according to the document obtained by the FT.

The EU digital chief’s desire to get rid of roaming fees should not be a surprise – she has been advocating it for some time – although the aggressive timetable may come as a shock to some.

In her latest speech, Kroes described roaming as “irritating”, “unfair” and “belonging to the past”.

“The telecoms industry, like Europe, needs favourable investment policies,” said Pierre Louette, deputy chief executive of Orange, speaking to the FT. “We are unsure that what is currently on the table goes in that direction.”

Louette further complained the European Commission’s focus appears to be on competition and lowering prices rather than on how to promote growth.

Jeremy Dellis, an analyst at Jefferies, quoted in a previous FT report, said: “If you cut voice roaming fees, there is likely to be a material effect on profitability as this is a high margin revenue stream.”

The latest cuts in roaming charges, stipulated by the European parliament, came into effect on 1 July. More cuts are slated for 1 July 2014.