Declaration Inked on Reducing EU-Western Balkans Roaming Costs  

Roaming Declaration, Tirana, Dec.6 2022 (BETAPHOTO/EUROPEAN COMMISION/Dati Bendo)

Telecommunications operators in the Western Balkan countries and EU leaders in Tirana on Dec. 6 signed a Roaming Declaration enabling a reduction in costs of roaming services between the EU and the Western Balkans. 

The signing ceremony was attended by the leaders of the Western Balkan countries and representatives of the EU and the process coordinator, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The document was signed ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana.  

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu said that the reduction in roaming costs would start on Oct. 1, 2023, adding she expected roaming charges for services between the EU and the Western Balkans to be scrapped by the end of 2027.  

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi described the Declaration as “the right and concrete integration” of the Western Balkan region in the EU, adding that such activities would be intensified in the coming period.  

The RCC has earlier said it is expecting the Roaming Declaration to cut operating costs of businesses, encourage doing business outside home countries and give an impetus to tourism in the Western Balkans.