EU commission extends affordable calls agreement for Ukraine

Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Commission today on 10 July 2024 welcomes the fifth extension for another twelve months of the voluntary contract between 22 European and seven Ukrainian telecommunications operators to assure that refugees from Ukraine can stay linked across borders.

The EU Commission, together with the NCEC, the Ukrainian national regulatory authority, encouraged the agreement. Affordable calls permit those seeking shelter in Europe to contact family and friends in Ukraine, and vice versa. This has been made feasible by the signatories, who have dedicated to mutually lowering their costs to connect calls across borders.

How Effective Is the EU’s Telecom Deal with Ukraine?

The latest data delivered by the Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications (BEREC) indicates that the contract has been efficient in permitting operators to provide affordable calls. Operators who are part of the Joint Statement generally profit from mutually lower rates than those who have not signed, which in turn suggests that they can deliver lower charges to their clients. 

BEREC also states that both operators from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Ukraine (UA) are giving the benefits resulting from these affordable rates to consumers. EEA operators persist in delivering free SIM cards to refugees, free international calls to Ukraine, and monthly packages functional in the host country.

What Benefits Do Refugees Gain from EU Telecom Extension?

Moreover, in telecommunications services, EEA operators deliver smartphones, power banks, and laptops to refugees or fund charity organisations. Despite the decline in incoming traffic, difficulties in keeping the subscriber base, as well as the condition to invest in network restoration on top of other negative effects of Russia’s ongoing illegal battle of aggression against Ukraine, UA operators persist in offering free or greatly decreased roaming services focused on customers’ needs.

On this occasion, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for Europe Fit for the Digital Age states that “Russia’s illegal war of aggression on Ukraine has had a devastating impact on people’s lives. We can only hope that staying connected via affordable phone calls has brought some solace. I welcome the roaming extension and would like to express my gratitude once again to all telecom operators who joined forces to continue making this happen.”

What Are the Next Steps for EU-Ukraine Telecom Integration?

Similarly, Ukraine has performed on fully linking their legislation with that of the EU, to intercorporate rate into the EU Roaming region. The primary regulation was signed by President Zelensky, and it was issued in the Official Journal of Ukraine on 19 June 2024, while secondary laws remain to be assumed. 

After Ukraine recognises its full alignment, which is expected in the future months, the European Commission will consider the conformity of the national legislation. Subject to a positive review endorsed by Member States, as well as a conclusion by the EU-Ukraine association committee, Ukraine will evolve part of the EU Roaming area, which will deliver a more durable and long-term solution for roaming.

Telecom operators located in the EU and Ukraine first marked the joint statement on their coordinated actions to secure and stabilise cheap or free roaming and international calls between the EU and Ukraine in April 2022.  In April 2023, the EU-Ukraine association committee assumed the Commission’s bid for Ukraine to join the EU Roaming rules.