Zelensky signed the law on Ukraine’s accession to the EU roaming space: benefits for refugees
In the context of Ukraine’s approach to membership in the European Union, the expansion of cooperation in the field of digital services has become extremely important. One of these steps is the signing of the law on the accession of Ukraine to the single roaming space of the EU – the Roam Like At Home (RLAH) initiative, which allows citizens to use mobile communications abroad under the same conditions as in their own country. This step not only contributes to the European integration of Ukraine, but will also directly affect the daily life of millions of Ukrainians who are currently or temporarily living in EU countries due to the war.
What the new law provides
On June 2, 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed a law that actually opens the way for Ukraine to fully join the roaming zone of the European Union. As explained Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, the signing of this document brings Ukraine closer to the RLAH policy and will allow Ukrainians to use mobile communications in EU countries without additional roaming costs.
It is about the fact that after receiving a positive assessment from the European Commission and an official decision to join the Roam Like At Home policy, Ukrainian citizens will be able to use the tariffs of their mobile operators in 27 EU countries as if they were staying in Ukraine. This applies to both voice calls and data transmission, SMS and other mobile services.
Mykhailo Fedorov emphasized that this law not only makes life easier for millions of citizens, but also integrates Ukraine into the Single Digital Market of Europe. In addition, the document strengthens the powers of the National Commission for State Regulation of Communications (NKEK), ensuring better protection of consumer rights and control over the quality of mobile communications services.
What does this mean for Ukrainian refugees?
For millions of Ukrainians who were forced to leave for the countries of the European Union because of the war, the introduction of roaming “visa-free” will be of practical importance. Today, hundreds of thousands of families are forced to pay large sums of money for mobile communication with relatives who remained in Ukraine, or to adapt to new, often inconvenient tariffs of local operators.
After the implementation of RLAH, Ukrainians will be able, without any additional costs:
– call home and receive calls from Ukraine without roaming charges;
– use the mobile Internet on the terms of your Ukrainian tariff;
– avoid complications with connecting to new operators in the EU;
– keep a Ukrainian number as the main means of communication even during a long stay abroad.
This is especially true for those who work, study or undergo treatment in Europe. In the conditions of a long war, the ability to stay in touch with family, official institutions in Ukraine, banks, schools, doctors without constant stress due to the cost of calls or data transmission is an element of basic security and stability for Ukrainians.
At the same time, the new law also opens up prospects for closer digital integration with the EU – both in the field of protection of users’ rights and in the development of electronic services, common digital standards and interaction of telecommunications companies.
Thus, Ukraine continues its digital integration into the European Union with concrete benefits for its citizens, in particular those who today are forced to live outside their homeland.
