EU and Western Balkans start talks on reducing roaming fees ⋆

EU and Western Balkans start talks on reducing roaming fees

After the successful implementation of the Regional Roaming Agreement, a new process has begun to cut roaming fees between the EU and Western Balkans countries, according to Montenegrin Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Goran Djurovic, reports eKapija. western balkans roaming fees

This is a demanding process with the shared responsibility of all stakeholders involved, namely the governments of the Western Balkans, mobile operators, as well as international and regional partners, ie the EC and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

– All these activities will benefit the citizens of the region. In this regard, I would like to inform you that the Government of Montenegro is fully committed to implementing all measures from the Roadmap to reduce roaming prices between the EU and the Western Balkans, because it recognizes many benefits and sees it as one of the key elements in Montenegro’s accession process. EU – said the Minister at the panel “European Code of Electronic Communications, Directive on Reducing the Cost of Broadband Access and Development 5G”, which is being held within the EU-Western Balkans Regional Dialogue, held in Brussels.

Djurovic also said in Brussels that the process of digital transformation has become an imperative for further development of each country.

– Digital development in Montenegro is recognized as a chance for long-term success and prosperity of the whole society. Therefore, the vision of Montenegro is to become the country with the fastest digital development in the region – he said.

As fifth generation mobile networks are one of the most important segments in building the digital economy and digital society in the next decade, the Minister said Montenegro is aware of the importance of 5G technologies, and that activities to create conditions for 5G networks began a few years ago. In that sense, the Study on the Strategy for the Introduction of 5G Mobile Communication Networks in Montenegro was prepared, which represents a very good basis for creating a national strategy for the introduction and development of 5G mobile communication networks.

He added that in December 2021, Montenegro adopted a Roadmap for the introduction of 5G mobile communications networks with a detailed action plan for 2022, which is the first step in creating a Strategy for the introduction of 5G mobile communications networks, which is planned to be adopted. by the end of 2022, and that at the beginning of this year, activities have begun on the preparation of a new Law on Electronic Communications, which will transpose the Directive on the European Electronic Code into national legislation. western balkans roaming

– In the coming period, the Government of Montenegro will work hard to meet legal and regulatory preconditions within strong inter-institutional cooperation, in order to successfully move forward with the Roadmap for reducing roaming tariffs between EU and Western Balkans and contribute to another success and regional agenda. cooperation. The future of the entire region lies in the EU, so the Government of Montenegro strongly supports joint regional actions that achieve concrete benefits for citizens and the economy – concluded Djurovic.