Ukrainians will be able to use free roaming in the EU for another 12 months

Free roaming in the European Union countries has been extended for Ukrainians for another year.

Ukraine could soon become part of the EU roaming space, providing a stable and long-term solution for roaming. The European Commission welcomed the fifth extension of the voluntary roaming agreement between 22 European and 7 Ukrainian telecom operators. Its aim is to ensure that refugees from Ukraine can stay connected. Information about this has appeared Online EC on Wednesday, July 10.

For the first time, telecommunications operators from EU and Ukraine signed a joint statement on coordinating efforts to ensure and stabilise affordable or free roaming and international calls between the EU and Ukraine in April 2022.

European regulator BEREC has demonstrated the effectiveness of the agreement between operators in the EU and UkraineAffordable calls allow Ukrainians seeking refuge in Europe to stay in touch with family and friends in Ukraine, and vice versa.

In February 2023, the European Commission proposed to join Ukraine to the European Union roaming zone. In April of the same year, the EU-Ukraine Association Committee accepted the EC's proposal to accede to the European roaming rules.

Parallel Ukraine has been working to fully align its legislation with EU legislation.to integrate into the European roaming space. The Basic Law was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 18.

However, additional legislation still needs to be adopted. Following Ukraine's announcement of the completion of full coordination, which is expected in the coming months, the European Commission will assess the compliance of Ukrainian national legislation.

Subject to positive assessment and approval by EU Member States and a final decision by the Association Committee, Ukraine will become part of the European Union roaming area, which will provide a more stable and long-term solution for roaming.

In May, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading a bill on a single roaming zone with the European Union.

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