Good news: Tens of thousands of Hungarians may join the EU’s free roaming area in war-torn country
If approved by EU Council, Ukrainians will be allowed to talk, text, and use their mobile data from Ukrainian phone numbers in 27 EU nations without incurring additional costs. That is because they may soon join the EU’s free roaming zone.
Free roaming zone awaits for Ukraine
ISTANBUL (AA) – The EU Commission proposed on Tuesday to include Ukraine in the Union-wide roaming zone in 2026, where mobile operators do not charge roaming fees to subscribers of other member states. This will provide the same advantages to Europeans who could be in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainians to talk, text, and use their mobile data from Ukrainian phone numbers in the 27 EU nations without incurring additional costs.
“Roaming is the first area where the EU would extend internal market treatment to Ukraine,” a statement from the commission said. The proposal must be approved by the EU Council before it takes effect. Since 2017, EU customers have been able to continue making calls and sending data across EU borders while traveling at the same price and speed as they would in their own countries due to the EU’s “Roam like at Home” regulations. High mobile phone bills were eliminated when traveling between different countries within the EU.
The life of tens of thousands of Hungarians can become easier
Based on the latest estimates, the number of Hungarians still residing in Transcarpathia, Ukraine’s westernmost region, is approximately 70,000-80,000. The 2001 census, the first and last official census in Ukraine’s history, found more than 150,000 Hungarians in that county, slightly more than 12% of its entire population.
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