Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to the Office of Montenegro’s President, Jakov Milatovic, the decision by the Council of the European Union to approve the opening of negotiations on extending the ‘Roam Like at Home’ area to the Western Balkans is major news for Montenegro and the region.

 

“Great news for Montenegro and the region ahead of the upcoming Summit,” the Office of the President of Montenegro stated in a post on the social media platform X.

 

The President’s Office said that the decision creates the conditions for the European Commission to begin bilateral negotiations with Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia on abolishing roaming charges with the EU.

 

“The inclusion of the Western Balkan countries in the ‘Roam Like at Home’ area is another concrete benefit of the EU accession process. It will contribute to stronger connectivity among citizens and businesses, enhance tourism, and support the further economic development of Montenegro and the region,” the Office stated. 

 

Today, the Council of the European Union approved the opening of negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia with a view to extending the EU's Roam Like at Home (RLAH) area to these partners.

 

The ‘Roam Like at Home’ area allows consumers to make calls, send text messages and use mobile data while travelling abroad without paying additional roaming charges, under the same conditions as at home. 

 

It currently covers the EU, the European Economic Area countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - as well as Moldova and Ukraine.

 

Following today's decision, the European Commission will begin negotiations on sectoral agreements with each of the WB6 partners. These agreements will be anchored to the existing Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs), which support the region's stability, economic integration and rapprochement with the EU.

 

 

 

The sectoral agreements will establish the institutional framework necessary for their implementation and governance.

 

Before joining the RLAH area, each WB6 partner will need to fully align with and implement the EU roaming acquis. The Commission will assess compliance and, where the outcome is positive, confirm that the necessary conditions have been met.

 

Following a positive assessment, the joint body established under each of the relevant agreements will be able to decide on the reciprocal opening of the EU and WB partner’s roaming markets, enabling citizens and businesses to benefit from roaming services without additional charges.