On September 14, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen left Strasbourg for a working visit to Kyiv, where she will meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a number of issues, including Ukraine’s accession to the European free roaming system.
Last week, Ukraine took an important step towards further integration with the EU Digital Single Market by joining the Digital Europe program with a total budget of 7.5 billion euros . At the same time, the EU underscored its commitment to explore the possibilities for a long-term agreement to eliminate roaming charges between the EU and Ukraine. And now Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the immutability of plans to attract Ukraine to the EU roaming space.
We will give ?? the opportunity to maximize their potential.
Building on the success of solidarity pathways to ensure unhindered access to the Single Market.
We include Ukraine in our ?? free roaming zone.
I’m going to Kiev today to discuss all this with the President @ZelenskyyUa pic.twitter.com/uYxf41CIr6
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 14, 2022
Since June 15, 2017, a free roaming zone has been operating in the European Union between operators of the European Economic Area, which includes the EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. Ukraine initiated negotiations on joining the single roaming zone back in May, and in July this issue, among others, was discussed by Prime Minister Denys Shmygal with EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
Earlier, the EU introduced free roaming for refugees from Ukraine, and the big three operators in Ukraine (Vodafone, Kyivstar and lifecell) provide packages of free roaming services within their own tariffs as a social service.
As soon as Ukraine joins the EU roaming space, Ukrainians traveling throughout the EU will be able to make calls and use mobile Internet at home rates without additional surcharges.
At the meeting with Zelensky, they also plan to discuss Ukraine’s unhindered access to the Single Market and the expansion of trade with Ukraine in the energy sector .
