From July without fees for roaming

This will happen on the basis of an agreement for roting among Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia). The first phase of implementation of the agreement was launched in 2019, where there was a price reduction of up to 80 percent, while the second phase, or total elimination of tariffs, was warned to be implemented on July 1, 2021.

The roaming fee means the telecommunication and service that citizens use in another country, by a mobile operator center.

ARKEP: Soon to close legislation needed to start implementing phase two

ARKEP officials have told Radio Free Europe, that “does not extend the pre-priced deadlines for implementation of the Roming Agreement”, so it is expected to start implemented in the set term.

On February 14, 2021, the public consultation of the draft - regulation for the implementation of the right policy and for the methodology of the evaluation of the removal of retail roaming tariffs for the Romang agreement among Western Balkan states has ended. This regulation is expected to be adopted soon, with which the legislation needed for the start of implementing the second phase will be completed, respectively, removing Roma tariffs from July 1st 2021” is said in response to this institution.

Removing telecommunications tariffs for Western Balkan countries has called for the European Union, as a form of relief for communication among citizens.

In April 2018 at the first Digital Summit held in Skopje, the decline in Romang prices among Balkan countries was warned.

The application is later divided into two phases, the first phase in 2019 and the second phase in 2021.

Luka: FThe first phase of the deal has been implemented successfully

The Council for Regional Co-operation Secretary-General (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, has said in a post on the social Facebook network on February 23rd of this year that “from July 1st 2021, the roting rate in the Balkans will be zero”.

The Regional Co-operation Council deals with co-operation among Eastern European countries, aimed at membership in the European Union.

For implementation of this agreement, ARKEP officials say they are in constant communication with operators, through providing relevant guidelines for the implementation of tariffs.

Kosovo Telecom officials have also told Radio Free Europe, that after the start of implementing the first phase, “are currently held meetings with the regulator and communications with other partners” said in response to the Kosovo Telecom Information Office.

Former Minister of Economic Development in the Government of Kosovo, at the time the agreement was signed, was Valdrin Luka. In a conversation for Radio Free Europe, he has said he believes telecommunications operators are willing to begin implementing the agreement in July.

According to him, the first phase of the agreement has been implemented successfully.

The reduction in tariffs has happened, which I've already seen in practice. There are no more staggering tariffs that have occurred before, when a person has gone to one of the Balkan countries, where he has called and received the staggering tax on the bill. And on July 1st, they can speak with the same tariffs that speak within his territory”, Luka says.

Talks Expected to Start Even With EU Countries

Just on July 1, 2021, when tariffs for radio services in Western Balkan countries are expected to be eliminated, talks will begin to reach similar agreements with European Union countries, wrote yes on Facebook, Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Council for Regional Co-operation (RCC).

“About 80% of traffic in roaming, Albanians mostly have it with European countries, but on July 1st we start talks to reach the same agreement with the EU. How much does this affect everyone's pocket? Just think that today for the same service, citizens in the Balkans pay four times as much as one citizen in the EU”, the Coast has written.

Luka says lifting the prices of roting services with the countries of the European Union has been a requirement of Western Balkan states, and in this regard commitment is required.

This should be the next step to start and work in this regard. Initially, primary agreements have been agreements with the Western Balkans, namely, to facilitate businesses travelling and working in the countries of the region so that communication is easier” is expressed by Luqa.

Currently, the prices for Roma services for one minute calls realised are 0.05 cents, while for a message (sms) 0.2 cents.