Former Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati has reacted to the European Union's decision to include Ukraine and Moldova in the free roaming regime. This policy allows people to use their mobile phones – to talk, write and surf the internet – just like in their own country, anywhere in the EU, as well as in countries that are part of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or in the United Kingdom.
On the political level, it is inexplicable, according to Bushati, "why the EU has not yet taken the same decision for our countries, which have been waiting to be part of the EU for more than two decades."
While in practical terms, this would constitute a great convenience for the citizens of the region. "The six countries of our region have long embraced a policy of free roaming among themselves. Unlike Ukraine and Moldova, in the Western Balkans there is no part of the territory under occupation where the coverage of mobile operators' networks could be questioned. Also, the number of citizens and subscribers of the countries of our region is smaller compared to that of Ukraine. Consequently, the financial losses of mobile operators would be smaller, while the practical benefits of citizens would be large", emphasizes Bushati.
He underlines that "it is time for the EU to implement, without wasting time, the same policy for the Western Balkan countries."
