Eastern Partnership Ministerial advances regional roaming agreement

Eastern Partnership ministerial participants have thrown their weight behind the signing of a regional agreement on roaming, with the development confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia in an official statement on Tuesday. 

Earlier speculations hinted at the possibility of the five Eastern Partnership countries reaching a consensus on a phased reduction of roaming fees within the region.

The outcomes of the ministerial meeting on Monday in Brussels, attended by foreign ministers from Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, along with their counterparts from EU member states, witnessed the presence of high-profile figures such as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhely. 

The gathering centered around reinforcing efforts to implement a recovery programme, stabilize and reform the Eastern Partnership, and addressed the repercussions of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine in the wider region.

A press release issued post-meeting highlighted the commitment of the EU, member states, and partners to bolstering collaboration in various domains. Key areas of focus included communications, transport, energy, the transition to a green and digital economy, as well as human rights, civil society, the rule of law, and security.

Ministers expressed their endorsement for specific priority directions in 2024, with a particular emphasis on regional roaming, road safety, and transport.

It was revealed that the European Union plans to increase the number of observers in Armenia from 138 to 209.