Brussels: The European Commission has announced the Council’s decision to integrate Ukraine into the EU’s Roam Like at Home area, effective from January 1, 2026. This initiative will allow Ukrainians to make calls, send texts, and use mobile data from Ukrainian numbers across 27 EU countries without incurring additional charges. Similarly, EU users traveling to Ukraine will enjoy the same benefits.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the voluntary agreement currently in place between EU and Ukrainian telecom operators has been extended until December 31, 2025. This extension ensures that affordable communication continues until Ukraine officially becomes part of the EU Roaming area. Telecom operators have taken on additional commitments and opened participation, which facilitates this transition.
In another development, a new regional hub of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), named FACT, has been established to combat disinformation in Ukraine and Moldova. FACT is a collaborative effort to detect and analyze manipulation and disinformation campaigns, with a focus on Russian disinformation. The hub will also contribute to ensuring electoral integrity in Moldova during the upcoming elections.
The EU’s innovation performance continues to show improvement, with a 12.6 percentage point increase since 2018, as revealed by the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). However, a slight decline of 0.4 points was noted between 2024 and 2025, indicating the need for accelerated action amidst global competition.
In a move to enhance data protection, the European Commission confirmed that the European Patent Organisation’s data protection framework now meets the necessary safeguards for data transfer. This development is expected to streamline patent processes and foster innovation across Europe.
Today, the EU commemorates the victims of the global climate crisis in Brussels. Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera and other EU representatives are paying tribute to those affected by climate change. The ceremony underscores the importance of building resilience against climate disasters, as Europe faces climate-related challenges at an increasing pace.
Meanwhile, in Moldova, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen is engaging in discussions on digital policy and cybersecurity. Her visit aims to strengthen EU-Moldova cooperation in these areas, following the Council’s agreement to deepen collaboration.
In Brussels, Commissioner Michael McGrath is set to host a dialogue on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The discussion will focus on streamlining compliance and harmonizing enforcement across the EU.
Lastly, Commissioner Oliv©r V¡rhelyi is holding a dialogue on simplifying EU rules for biocidal products, seeking to evaluate and improve the current regulatory framework to benefit both companies and consumers.