From January 1, 2024, roaming rates between Moldova and the European Union will start to decrease.
This was announced at a press conference in Chisinau by Moldovan President Maia Sandu and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, noting that this is provided for by a corresponding agreement on the liberalization of roaming, which was signed by the parties. The head of the Moldovan state noted that, thus, during trips to the EU countries, Moldovan citizens will be able to communicate more often and cheaper with their families, relatives left at home. According to the press service of the government, the agreement was signed during a video conference, which was attended by Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Dumitru Alaiba, EU Commissioner on expansion and neighborhood policy Olivér Várhelyi and the leaders of the largest mobile communication companies from Europe and Moldova. Prime Minister Dorin Recean expressed his gratitude for the joint efforts of European officials and the Moldovan authorities, as well as national and international operators, who made this achievement possible. He stressed that the reduction of roaming tariffs is a strong signal of Moldova's integration into the common European economic space. In turn, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi, said that the reduction in roaming charges will have numerous benefits for citizens, the business environment and the diaspora, will bring Moldova closer to the single European market, and that the EU will continue to support Moldova in the process of digitalization and connection with European values and space. The European Commission also released a message in which it welcomed the agreement between Moldovan telecom operators and the European Union to reduce roaming tariffs from January 1, 2024 and confirmed the goal - the inclusion of the Republic of Moldova in the EU roaming area. As noted in the message of the European Commission, the declaration signed by the parties represents a voluntary obligation of mobile operators to offer lower roaming rates to citizens and businesses in the EU / EEA and Moldova, respectively. Among other things, they committed to implement affordable retail roaming offers by January 1, 2024 for end users traveling between the EU/EEA (European Economic Area) and Moldova, approved a retail price ceiling to be announced no later than October 1, 2023. Also was decided to evaluate the wholesale roaming limit to provide roaming services at or below the agreed retail limit; revise wholesale roaming agreements, where appropriate, to take into account reductions in international termination rates and ensure that roaming services are provided at or below the agreed retail limit; ensure that retail offerings are available to the maximum number of end users. Among the first signatories from the EU side are the Orange group, the DT group and the Telefonica group covering many EU countries. From the Moldovan side, the documents were signed by Orange Moldova, Moldcell and Moldtelecom. The declaration will apply until December 31, 2025 and may be extended beyond that date. The declaration is voluntary and is open to all operators who wish to sign it at any time. The declaration complements the decision of Moldova to reduce, from January 1, 2024, international tariffs for the termination of voice calls to the level of regulated tariffs in the EU, the so-called Eurorate. Voice call termination rates make up the majority of roaming costs, so this discount allows to reduce voice roaming rates. Also, Moldova and Romania previously signed a bilateral agreement on the liberalization of roaming tariffs in the interests of citizens. // 01.06.2023 — InfoMarket
