US EditionSome Balkan truckers end EU blockade after travel rule update, others continue
Montenegro and North Macedonia ended protests after the EU introduced visa flexibility for mobile professionals; Serbia and Bosnia blockades still disrupt 93% of regional exports, costing €92 million daily.
- On Jan 29, truck drivers in Montenegro and North Macedonia ended border blockades after the European Union announced a more flexible visa strategy, while drivers in Bosnia and Serbia continued their protests.
- Drivers protested the EU's stricter entry-exit enforcement, citing detention risks for exceeding Schengen visit limits and saying costs rise by hundreds of millions of euros.
- At the Batrovci crossing, Cadez warned exports were blocked, causing about 92 million euros daily damage and 10,000 euros in penalties for firms.
- At the Batrovci border crossing between Serbia and Croatia, a mile-long truck column blocked the cargo terminal approach, and Luigi Soreca, head of the EU delegation in Bosnia, said the issue is particularly relevant for professional drivers, touring artists, and athletes.
- Despite partial lifts, Bosnia's Zijad Saric said, `These statements do not fulfil our demands nor resolve our problems` and vowed to continue the blockade.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The European Union's new visa strategy reduced truck drivers' protests in the Western Balkans.
After four days of disruption, cross-border freight transport is gradually returning to normal after Macedonian transport operators lifted the blockades.]The decision was made at a meeting of the MAKAM-Trans Crisis Staff, following the European Commission's announcement that the new visa strategy will solve the problem of professional drivers staying in the Schengen area. Transport ministers from the Western Balkans will meet with EC representat…
Only truck drivers from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina remained at the borders with EU countries, dissatisfied with the rule that they can only stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days out of 180. Transporters from Montenegro and North Macedonia have lifted the blockades of crossings with EU countries.
Road transporters from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are continuing to block freight border crossings with the EU until their demands are met, they confirmed to RTV Slovenia after a joint meeting in Belgrade. In the meantime, traffic via Montenegro and North Macedonia has resumed.
Border crossings for freight traffic to the Schengen area, which had been blocked by Western Balkan truckers since Monday, reopened today. The decision to end the five-day blockade was made following Thursday's announcement by the European Commission that it would examine options for providing more flexibility in the implementation of visa rules.
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