EU Moves Towards Ending Roaming Charges with the Western Balkans – Calls and Mobile Data Without Extra Fees

Good news for people from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Western Balkan countries living in Germany or elsewhere in the European Union: the European Commission has proposed opening negotiations to extend the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” scheme to the Western Balkans. The European Commission has proposed opening negotiations with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo to allow them to join the European Union’s “Roam Like at Home” system. If the negotiations are successfully concluded and each partner fully aligns its legislation with the relevant EU roaming rules, travellers between the European Union and the Western Balkans could eventually use their mobile phones without additional roaming charges . What would this mean for people from Serbia and the Western Balkans? The planned change could be particularly important for people from the Western Balkans who live and work in Germany, Austria and other EU countries and regularly travel back home. Once “Roam Like at Home” is introduced, mobile customers travelling between participating Western Balkan countries and the EU should be able to make calls, send text messages and use mobile data without traditional additional roaming charges . The same principle would apply in the opposite direction, meaning EU residents travelling to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or other participating Western Balkan countries could also benefit. Six Western Balkan partners included The European Commission’s proposal covers: Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro North Macedonia Albania Kosovo The goal is to gradually integrate these Western Balkan partners into the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” system. When will roaming charges be abolished? It is important to note that roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans have not yet been abolished . On 25 February 2026 , the European Commission proposed opening negotiations on extending “Roam Like at Home” to the Western Balkans. Before the new system can take effect, the relevant agreements must be concluded and each partner must fully align its rules with the EU roaming framework. For this reason, there is currently no single confirmed date from which EU mobile plans can be used in Serbia or other Western Balkan countries without additional roaming charges. Particularly important for the diaspora The planned changes could be especially significant for the large Western Balkan diaspora living in Germany and other EU countries . People who regularly travel to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or elsewhere in the region are familiar with the issue: after crossing the border, they may need to purchase an additional roaming package, switch off mobile data or use a local SIM card to avoid high charges. Bringing the Western Balkans into the “Roam Like at Home” system could make using a mobile phone while travelling considerably easier and more affordable. The changes could benefit not only tourists and families but also commuters, business travellers, students and companies that regularly travel between the European Union and the Western Balkans. Source: European Commission / Shaping Europe’s Digital Future