Countries that are included in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program are going to sign an agreement on the harmonization on roaming rates, Belarusian Minister of Communications and Informatization Sergei Popkov said, 112.ua reports.

Such was the decision made on Thursday in Minsk during the informal negotiations between ministers of the Eastern Partnership governments.

“Today we came to the decision that by the end of this year we will have a roadmap for the countries of the Eastern Partnership, and by the end of 2022 we will sign an agreement on the harmonization of prices on roaming services in our countries”, Popkov said.

The minister also pointed out that the European Union worked on the issue of free-roaming services for 10 years.

“Obviously, we cannot say it will happen tomorrow and everything will become cheaper overnight. What we are saying is that we are going to gradually reduce the roaming rates to nationwide rates within a country”

he explained.

According to the official, it is going to be crucial to find a balance between the interests of mobile carriers on the one hand, in order for them to grow and invest in new technologies, and the public interest on the other hand.

Key Developments:

• Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA): The EaP countries have agreed on the foundational principles of the RRA, targeting a substantial reduction in roaming prices. The agreement is expected to lower roaming costs by up to 90% within five years of its implementation.
• Implementation Timeline: The RRA was anticipated to be signed by the end of 2020, following national consultations with telecom operators and regulatory authorities. The phased approach aims for an 87% reduction in retail roaming prices by the end of 2026. ​
• EU Integration Efforts: The European Union has proposed extending its “Roam Like at Home” model to the EaP countries, potentially eliminating roaming charges between the EU and these nations. This move would further integrate the EaP countries into the European digital market. ​

These efforts mirror the EU’s successful elimination of internal roaming charges in 2017 and the Western Balkans’ achievement of a roaming-free zone in 2021. The harmonization of roaming rates among the EaP countries represents a significant step toward enhanced regional cooperation and digital connectivity.

The Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative that unites EU member states and six countries that were in the Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.