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The start of negotiations for the abolition of roaming with the EU is approved, soon the same tariffs when traveling

2026-06-04 18:05:00, Aktualitet CNA

The start of negotiations for the abolition of roaming with the EU is approved,

The European Council announced today the approval of the opening of negotiations on the abolition of roaming charges between the European Union and six Western Balkan countries, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The decision in question paves the way for the European Commission to launch individual negotiations with each of the Western Balkan countries.

The abolition of roaming fees means that mobile service subscribers in Albania and other countries in the region will use their numbers in European Union countries at the same rates as in their own country.

The European Union became the first common space to decide to abolish roaming fees, according to the roam like at home principle, starting in June 2017. The European Union model was also implemented by the Western Balkan countries, which, with the coordination and mediation of the European Commission, undertook a similar process in 2019.

The abolition of roaming fees between the EU and the Western Balkan countries does not have a set deadline and its progress will depend on the negotiations that will take place with each country in the region.

This process will also require legal changes in each of these countries.

The Albanian government has prepared several amendments to the law “On Electronic Communications”, which, among other things, will create the legal basis for regulating roaming between Albania and the European Union. The legal amendments are expected to be approved this year.

Roaming tariffs between Albania and the European Union are not legally regulated, but since 2023, with the mediation of the European Commission, 38 mobile service operators from the EU and the Western Balkans region reached an agreement to reduce internet roaming tariffs.

Of the two Albanian mobile operators, only One Albania became part of the agreement, but Vodafone Albania also offers similar preferential tariffs for using the services of other Vodafone group companies in the EU.

The operators that became part of the agreement agreed to set a maximum retail price level of 18 euros/GB (gigabyte) starting from October 1, 2023, while since the beginning of this year the ceiling price has been reduced to 14 euros/GB.

The agreement also foresees a third stage, which will reduce prices to 9 euros/GB, starting in 2028.

The agreement has enabled mobile phone users from Albania to enjoy lower prices for internet use while they are in European Union countries, and, conversely, foreign tourists to use the internet at cheaper prices in Albania.

Mobile phone users of both Albanian mobile companies, however, have access to even lower-cost roaming communication packages, at a fixed price.

The agreement to reduce roaming internet fees with EU countries followed the agreement reached in 2019, to reduce or completely eliminate roaming fees between Western Balkan countries.

From the end of June 2021, mobile phone users in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina communicate while traveling to other countries in the region at no additional cost and with the same tariffs as the respective national plan./ Monitor Magazine