The Council of the European Union has approved the opening of negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia for the expansion of the “Roam Like at Home” area for these partners as well.
This mechanism allows consumers to make calls, send messages and use the mobile Internet while traveling abroad without additional roaming charges, under the same conditions as in their home country. Currently, the area covers the EU, the countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), as well as Moldova and Ukraine.
In a press release, Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus and President of the Council, said that this decision is a clear signal of the EU’s commitment to the region:
“Greater connectivity means greater opportunities for citizens, businesses and economic cooperation. By working towards an expanded common roaming area, we are making the benefits of European integration tangible in people’s everyday lives.”
After this decision, the European Commission will start negotiations for sectoral agreements with each of the countries of the Western Balkans. These agreements will be based on the Stabilization-Association Agreements, creating the institutional framework for their implementation and governance.
Before becoming part of the “Roam Like at Home” zone, countries in the region must fully comply with the EU roaming acquis and implement it. The Commission will assess the compatibility and, after a positive result, the joint body created under the agreement will decide on the mutual opening of the roaming markets.
This means that citizens and businesses of the Western Balkans will be able to use mobile phone services in EU countries without additional charges, directly benefiting from European integration in their daily lives.
