Ukraine completes preparations to join EU's roaming zone

The European Commission received formal notification from Ukraine on Friday 6 June confirming that all the legislative procedures required to join the EU’s Roam Like At Home zone are complete.

Source: Rikard Jozwiak, Europe editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Moldova is expected to submit a similar notification soon, with both countries set to join the roaming-free zone simultaneously.

According to Jozwiak, Ukraine and Moldova will become part of the EU roaming zone on 1 January 2026.

The roaming zone covers all 27 EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This is the first time the zone will expand to include candidate countries for EU membership.

"I know that the word 'historic' is overused these days but this is exactly that," Jozwiak said.

On 2 June 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the Law On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Implementation of European Union Legislation on Electronic Communications (reg. No. 12150).

The European Commission is now expected to initiate a decision on the mutual provision of an internal market regime for roaming between the EU and Ukraine, effectively enabling full accession to the Roam Like At Home policy.

Ukrainians will then be able to use roaming services at domestic tariff rates when travelling in EU countries, with the same tariffs and terms and conditions no matter which EU country they are in.

Background:

• Since Russia’s war of aggression began, millions of Ukrainians in the EU have been able to stay in touch with their relatives in Ukraine without additional roaming charges, thanks to agreements between operators. 
• This temporary arrangement, prompted by the displacement of so many Ukrainians to European countries, was last extended in July 2024 for one year.

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