Von der Leyen pledges end to EU roaming fees for Albania

TIRANA, Oct. 14 (TemA) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday pledged to end mobile roaming charges between Albania and the European Union next year, marking a step toward integration into the EU’s single digital market.

The move would allow Albanian subscribers to use their domestic mobile plans when travelling in EU countries, paying the same rates as at home.

Roaming fees are not yet regulated, but since 2023 a voluntary deal among 38 operators in the EU and Western Balkans has reduced internet costs. From Albania, One Albania joined the pact, while Vodafone Albania applies similar terms through its EU network.

Under that deal, retail data prices are capped at €18 per gigabyte, set to fall to €14 in 2026 and €9 in 2028.

The EU pledge follows the 2021 regional agreement scrapping roaming charges among Western Balkan states.

According to Albania’s telecom regulator AKEP, about 857,000 users used regional roaming in 2024, up 5% year on year, while data use rose 38% to 1.2 million gigabytes.