The team that curates news, announcements, stories and other publications about EU4Digital and Eastern Partnership digital activities invites you to take stock of the growing number of ways you can access this content – in particular, a brand-new Twitter account : come and join the conversation!

Want to find out more about digital developments, future priorities and the policy agenda for Eastern partner countries? The EU4Digital Initiative is organising two events dedicated to the topic of digital transformation in the Eastern Partnership. On 14 November 2023, the Digital Conference for the Eastern Partnership will provide a space for wider discussion and anyone who is interested in participating will be welcome. On 15 November 2023, invited members of the EU4Digital Phase II Steering Committee will meet to discuss the flagship regional EU4Digital Initiative and projects.

Telecoms operators can apply to participate in an auction in August 2023, for introducing 5th generation (5G) internet technology in Georgia. The country’s regulatory authority for broadcasting and electronic communications, the Communications Commission announced the auction on 6 July. The deadline for applications is 28 July 2023 at 17:00 local time (GMT+4).

Over 4 million Ukrainian refugees have been registered across the European Union since 24 February 2022. In the face of this humanitarian crisis, telecom operators based in Ukraine and in the European Union share the conviction that displaced Ukrainians should continue to have affordable access to connectivity to stay in touch with family and friends and to access the Internet and reliable sources of information. An agreement between EU and Ukrainian telecom operators, supporting affordable or free roaming and international calls, was extended on 9 July 2023 for another year.

To strengthen digital development and innovation in Moldova, representatives of the EU4Digital Facility and the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) visited the country on 14-16 June 2023. The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and explore initiatives that are advancing the Republic of Moldova’s digital landscape.

Looking for news, resources and other information about digital transformation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP)? EU4Digital invites you to explore its newly relaunched website: https://eufordigital.eu/! With the relaunch, the EU4Digital Facility offers its large digital community updated content and an improved user experience.

Telecoms operators from the European Union and the Republic of Moldova have signed a joint declaration, to lower roaming charges for businesses and citizens travelling between the two areas. The European Commission and Moldovan authorities facilitated the voluntary declaration, published on 31 May 2023, reflecting the shared goal to ensure a long-term roaming arrangement and bring Moldova closer to the EU Single Market. The EU supports this process and Moldova’s integration into the EU roaming regime through the EU4Digital Initiative.

The EU4Digital Telecom Rules stream participated in the 14th meeting of the Eastern Partnership Regulators for Electronic Communications (EaPeReg) Independence of Regulators and Broadband Expert Working Group (IRB EWG). Held on 10-11 March 2023, the event explored broadband network development and the model for independent national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in the EaP region.

The European Union’s commitment to Ukraine’s digital transformation was reaffirmed as part of a joint statement following the 24th EU-Ukraine Summit. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, met in Kyiv on 3 February and issued the statement about EU-Ukraine relations in view of the EU candidate status of Ukraine, the status of the Association Agreement and Ukraine’s EU accession.

The EC is inviting feedback on a draft act regarding key performance indicators (KPIs) of progress towards the Digital Decade policy programme 2030. These KPIs are to be used to measure underlying trends at the national as well as European level. Anyone wishing to participate is welcome to login via the EC information page and share their views before the deadline: midnight, Brussels time on 13 March 2023.

Ukraine is one step closer to the EU's free roaming area, as the European Commission adopted a proposal to incorporate roaming into the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on 14 February 2023. Once in place, Ukrainian visitors will no longer have to pay any additional charges to use their mobile phones when travelling in the EU, while travellers from the EU will benefit from the same rights when visiting Ukraine.

Around 16 million Ukrainians have been displaced since February 2022, with many now living in other countries. Thanks to efforts to maintain the country’s internet connectivity, Ukrainians still in the country have been able to get online and stay in contact with those abroad. Despite blackouts, missile attacks and significant damage done to Ukraine’s electricity and telecommunication infrastructure in the past year, there has been mobile, fixed and satellite connectivity in all Ukraine-controlled territories.