EU proposes to integrate Ukraine into free roaming area in 2026

By Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The EU Commission proposed on Tuesday to include Ukraine in the Union-wide roaming zone in 2026, where mobile operators do not charge roaming fees to subscribers of other member states.

This will provide the same advantages to Europeans who could be in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainians to talk, text, and use their mobile data from Ukrainian phone numbers in the 27 EU nations without incurring additional costs.

"Roaming is the first area where the EU would extend internal market treatment to Ukraine," a statement from the commission said.

The proposal must be approved by the EU Council before it takes effect.

Since 2017, EU customers have been able to continue making calls and sending data across EU borders while traveling at the same price and speed as they would in their own countries due to the EU's "Roam like at Home" regulations.

High mobile phone bills were eliminated when traveling between different countries within the EU.