End of roaming charges for Ukraine and Moldova. The EC decided

From 2026, holders of Ukrainian and Moldovan telephone numbers will use telecommunications services in the European Union without additional fees. The addition of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU roaming area brings these countries closer to joining the EU, the European Commission announced on Sunday.

The EU roaming area was created in 2017 and will continue in its current form until at least 2032. It ensures that EU residents traveling to other Member States pay the same price for using their mobile phones as they would in their own country.

On January 1, 2026, Ukraine and Moldova joined the EU “Roam Like at Home” area. This means that within the EU, people with phone numbers from these two countries can make phone calls, send text messages and use mobile data without additional charges. EU citizens residing in Ukraine and Moldova will also benefit from the expansion of this area.

EU countries decided to abolish roaming charges for Ukraine and Moldova in July 2025.

Both countries are trying to join the EU. After obtaining the formal status of a candidate country in June 2022 and starting accession talks in June 2024, Ukraine and Moldova must go through a complex process of adapting to EU law in 33 chapters grouped in six so-called negotiation clusters. The formal start of this process is blocked by Hungary, but work continues at the technical level.

The EU “Roam Like at Home” area includes – apart from the EU member states, and from January 1 this year: also Ukraine and Moldova – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Until 2021, the UK was also included. Following the country's exit from the EU, Roam Like at Home rules no longer automatically apply to UK users traveling within the EU or EU citizens visiting the UK. Therefore, fees may be higher, although some operators still charge lower fees. (PAP)

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