EU confirms date for Ukraine's entry into free roaming zone
Council of the European Union invited Ukraine to the free roaming zone (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On July 25, the Council of the European Union adopted the final decision to invite Ukraine and Moldova to the Roam Like at Home zone starting from January 1, 2026. According to the Council's website, the invitation for Ukraine has been in effect since July 14, and for Moldova since July 25.
"Moldovans and Ukrainians in the EU and EU citizens in Moldova and Ukraine will thus be able to make calls, send texts and use mobile data without additional charges, just like in their home country," the statement said.
In addition, the agreement guarantees consumers the same quality and speed of mobile connectivity abroad as they have in their own countries. The Council noted that Moldova is already benefiting from lower roaming rates thanks to an agreement concluded in 2024.
Ukraine, for its part, signed a voluntary agreement in 2022 between the EU and Ukrainian mobile operators. This agreement, valid through the end of 2025, ensures that Ukrainians and EU citizens can enjoy affordable and low-cost calls, text messages, and internet access.
Roaming for Ukrainians in the European Union
In February 2023, the European Commission included roaming in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. In 2024, the European Council supported Ukraine's accession to the EU's free roaming zone, while the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in turn, created the necessary conditions for the country to adopt the EU internal market regime in the field of roaming.
In June 2025, Kyiv notified the European Commission that all necessary legislative procedures for joining the EU roaming zone had been completed. On July 14, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the decision of the EU–Ukraine Association Committee on the mutual opening of the roaming sector.
