The EU proposes integrating Ukraine into its Roaming Area by 2026

The proposal, announced by the Commission, seeks to extend the benefits of "Roaming like at home" to Ukraine, a privilege that consumers of the UE have enjoyed since 2017. This means that travelers from Ukraine to the EU, and vice versa, will not pay additional fees for using their mobile services, and will be guaranteed the same network quality and speed as in their home countries, in addition to free access to emergency services.

The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized the importance of this initiative: "We want Ukrainian citizens to remain connected with their loved ones across the EU, as well as in their home country. That's why we're proposing that Ukraine join our Roaming family. Once again, we reaffirm our continued commitment to supporting Ukraine and its citizens."

This agreement represents the first area in which the EU will extend internal market treatment to Ukraine, strengthening ties and facilitating communication at a crucial time.

Extension of the Current Agreement and Next Steps

To ensure a smooth transition, the current agreement between the EU and Ukrainian telecom operators will be extended until 31 December 2025. This will ensure that citizens continue to benefit from the advantages of surcharge-free roaming while operators on both sides implement the technical requirements necessary for Ukraine's effective integration into the EU Roaming Area.

The proposal has been submitted to the Council for final approval, with the expectation that Ukraine will officially join on 1 January 2026. This process culminates an effort initiated in June 2022, when Ukraine expressed its interest in joining the Roaming Area, and is being accelerated following the alignment of its legislation with EU regulations on the subject, notified in June 2025.

Background of Collaboration

The EU-Ukraine relationship in the field of telecommunications has been steadily evolving. By April 2022, European and Ukrainian operators had already implemented voluntary measures to provide affordable connectivity to more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees in the EU, an agreement that has been continually extended. This collaboration lays the groundwork for the formal integration now proposed.