Truck drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have threatened to block border crossings with the European Union on September 14 unless the bloc changes rules restricting their stay in the Schengen Area.
Hundreds of transport workers protested across the four Western Balkan countries on Monday, demanding an exemption from the rule that limits non-EU citizens to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen zone.
The drivers argue that the restriction is preventing them from carrying out their jobs effectively because they frequently travel into EU countries to deliver goods.
The dispute has become more pressing following the introduction of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System, which electronically records the movements of non-EU nationals and makes it easier for authorities to monitor how long drivers remain within the Schengen Area.
The European Commission has said it is discussing possible solutions with Western Balkan countries. One proposal involves bilateral agreements between individual countries in the region and EU member states.
North Macedonia has already reached agreements with Croatia, Switzerland and Romania, while similar arrangements with other countries are reportedly being considered.
However, truck drivers say they want a broader solution covering all Schengen countries rather than separate agreements with individual states.
Potential impact on regional trade
A prolonged border blockade could have significant consequences for trade between the Western Balkans and the EU.
The European Union accounts for more than 60 percent of the Western Balkans’ total trade, making the bloc the region’s largest trading partner.
Transport disruptions could delay the movement of food, fuel, medicines, industrial materials and consumer goods, while trucks stuck at border crossings could increase costs for businesses and consumers.
The region has experienced similar disruptions before. In January, truck drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia coordinated a blockade of freight terminals leading into the Schengen Area.
Drivers say restrictions threaten their livelihoods
Drivers who regularly transport goods into EU countries say the 90-day limit is severely affecting their ability to earn a living.
Adis Casevic, a Bosnian international truck driver who transports goods to countries including Germany, France and the Netherlands, said the restrictions effectively cut his working time in half.
“Being allowed to stay for 90 days in six months is practically half of our working time,” Casevic said. “We cannot support our families that way.”
Nikola Brkovic of Logistika BiH said about 5,000 drivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are affected by the restrictions, with the number across the wider Western Balkans believed to be much higher.
The Montenegrin Association of Transport Companies has also reported cases of professional drivers being turned away at EU borders after reaching the 90-day limit.
Calls for special rules for professional drivers
The transporters are urging the European Commission and EU member states to establish a special arrangement for professional truck drivers.
They argue that drivers should not be treated in the same way as tourists because they enter the EU for work and are employed by registered transport companies under international permits.
Zijad Saric, president of Logistika BiH, said the drivers are simply seeking an extension of the time they are permitted to spend in the Schengen Area while carrying out their professional duties.
The drivers have warned that unless the EU provides an acceptable solution, they will proceed with a new border blockade on September 14.
Such a move could disrupt supply chains between the Western Balkans and the EU and put additional pressure on already busy border crossings.
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