The Commission adopted today a proposal to incorporate roaming into the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. Once all necessary steps have been completed, Moldovan visitors to the EU will be able to use their mobile phones under the same price conditions as if they were in Moldova, while travellers from the EU will benefit from the same rights when visiting Moldova.
Bringing Moldova into the EU "roam like at home" area is one of the key actions of the EU-Moldova Priority Action Plan, agreed in June 2023. This plan is a roadmap for the full implementation of the EU-Moldova Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and Moldova's further integration into the EU Single Market.
Today's step follows the Joint Declaration on 31 May by EU and Moldovan telecom operators to voluntarily lower roaming tariffs from 1 January 2024, facilitated by the European Commission.
The Commission will allow the update of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement by adding the most recent EU legislation on telecoms and postal services.
Next steps
The proposal will now be considered by the Council of the European Union. Following the Council's agreement, a Joint Decision will need to be taken by the EU-Moldova Association Committee in Trade Configuration to amend the Association Agreement Annex to incorporate the most recent EU legislation on telecoms and postal services. Once the approximation and implementation of the relevant EU legislation in Moldova in completed, Moldova and the EU will be in a position to agree to allowing "roami like at home" to start.
Background
Since being granted candidate status in June 2022, the Republic of Moldova has expressed a strong interest in reflecting single market rules in the telecom sector. The Commission shares its goal of bringing the Republic of Moldova into the EU's "roam like at home" area, which has benefited millions of citizens across the EU already, and represents a fundamental element of the Single Market.
The Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between the EU and Moldova was signed in June 2014 and has been in full effect since July 2016.
The Priority Action Plan for 2023-2024 has been put in place to spur the implementation of the DCFTA. Since the European Council has granted Moldova candidate status on 23 June 2022, the EU and Moldova have reached a new stage in their relationship. The Priority Action Plan reflects jointly agreed new priorities for 2023-2024.
The proposal adopted today is for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Association Committee in Trade Configuration as regards the amendment of Annex XXVIII-B (Rules applicable to telecommunication services) and Annex XXVIII-C (Rules applicable to postal and courier services) of the Association Agreement.
