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Albania and five other Western Balkan countries have moved closer to abolishing roaming charges with the European Union. EU member state ambassadors have given their approval to start negotiations with the countries in the region.
According to unofficial sources from the EU Council, the decision paves the way for talks with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on roaming services on public mobile phone networks.
The EU Council is expected to formally adopt the decision on June 4. After this step, negotiations can begin separately with each Western Balkan country.
The Cypriot Presidency of the European Union has described the expansion of the roaming-free zone as a clear signal of the EU's commitment to the region and support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
The decision is related to the opening of negotiations for a sectoral agreement between the European Union and six countries in the region, with a focus on roaming on public mobile communications networks.
The European Commission proposed in February that the "Roam Like at Home" scheme be extended to the Western Balkans. The European institutions aim to conclude negotiations by the end of the year.
If the process goes according to plan, Albanian citizens will be able to use their phones in EU countries at the same rates as in Albania, without additional charges for calls, messages or mobile internet.
The "Roam Like at Home" scheme has been implemented in the European Union since 2017 and is considered one of the EU's most tangible initiatives for citizens.
In the best-case scenario, roaming fees between the Western Balkans and European Union countries could be abolished as early as next year.
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