A ministry communiqué confirms that The United Kingdom has announced amendments to Annex XX of the Agreement on International Mobile Roaming Rates under the Free Trade Agreement between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Published under Decision No. 2/2022 of the EEA EFTA-United Kingdom Joint Committee, adopted on 21 September 2022, this revision pertains solely to technical adjustments. The statement does not mention any substantive changes to the roaming rates themselves, nor does it address the broader implications of the agreement for UK mobile consumers. The announcement confirms a routine process of updating the agreement to align with evolving technological standards.
Context
This announcement represents a continuation of the established framework governing international mobile roaming within the EEA. The Joint Committee, established under the Free Trade Agreement, is responsible for addressing technical amendments to the agreement’s annexes. This process is a standard element of maintaining the operational functionality of the agreement, ensuring continued compatibility between UK mobile networks and those within the EEA. The specific amendment to Annex XX – detailing the agreement on international mobile roaming rates – is a technical adjustment. The statement does not address the volume of amendments made to the agreement over the years, nor does it provide context for the ongoing need for these updates. This activity is consistent with previous technical adjustments made to the agreement, as evidenced by the UK/USA Agreement on Trade in Wine (TS No.42/2026) published in September 2026, and the UK/Rwanda Agreement concerning Air Services (CS Rwanda No.1/2026) published in September 2026. These prior agreements demonstrate the UK’s commitment to maintaining a stable and technically sound trade relationship within the EEA.
What to Watch
Should the Joint Committee continue to issue technical amendments to Annex XX, the UK government will maintain its commitment to ensuring seamless mobile roaming access for UK residents travelling within the EEA. The statement does not mention any future planned amendments. The UK government’s position, as articulated in previous statements (in March the ministry said…), remains focused on upholding the benefits of the Free Trade Agreement. There is no indication that this amendment signals a broader shift in the UK’s approach to EEA relations. The Joint Committee’s next meeting schedule has not been released, but the statement does not mention any anticipated timeline for further technical adjustments.
Sources & Further Reading
- Official press release
- Foreign ministry source
- UK/USA: Agreement on Trade in Wine [TS No.42/2026] (30 Septemb)
- UK/Rwanda: Agreement concerning Air Services [CS Rwanda No.1/2026] (8 Septembe)
- UK/USA: Amendment to the Agreement for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes [TS No.41/2026] (24 Septemb)
