EU Moves Toward Ending Roaming Fees for Albania in New Negotiation Process

 EU moves toward ending roaming fees for Albania

 The European Council has approved the launch of negotiations aimed at gradually removing roaming charges between the European Union and Albania, opening the possibility for Albanian mobile users to eventually use their phones in EU countries at the same rates as at home.

The illustration reflects the historic decision of the European Council to launch negotiations aimed at gradually abolishing roaming charges between the European Union and Albania, enabling Albanian citizens to communicate at no additional cost while traveling in Europe.

The decision allows the European Commission to begin talks specifically with Albania, as part of a broader process involving all Western Balkan countries. If successful, it would mean that Albanians traveling across the EU would no longer face extra costs for calls, messages, and mobile data.

At present, roaming charges still apply for Albanian users when traveling in EU member states, although prices have been gradually reduced in recent years through agreements between operators.

A key step forward came in 2023, when under EU mediation, several telecom operators from the EU and the Western Balkans agreed to cap roaming data prices. In Albania, only One Albania formally joined the agreement, while Vodafone Albania has offered similar preferential packages through its wider European network.

Under the current arrangement, the maximum wholesale price for mobile data was set at €18 per GB starting in October 2023, later reduced to €14 per GB. A further reduction to €9 per GB is planned by 2028.

While these reductions have already made roaming more affordable for Albanian users traveling in Europe, the long-term goal is full alignment with the EU’s “roam like at home” system, which would eliminate additional roaming charges entirely.

For Albania, this process also requires legal adjustments. The Albanian government has already prepared amendments to the law on electronic communications, which are expected to create the legal basis for regulating roaming with the EU and supporting future integration into the European telecom area.

If completed, the agreement would represent one of the most practical benefits of Albania’s EU integration path, directly affecting millions of citizens who travel, study, or work across Europe.