Truck drivers from Balkan countries situated outside the European Union have initiated coordinated blockades at multiple border crossings in a significant protest against the recent, stricter enforcement of EU entry regulations. The drivers argue these rules are severely undermining their livelihoods and the regional transport industry.
Coordinated Border Blockades Disrupt Freight Movement
Long columns of trucks formed at crucial freight border crossings in Bosnia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro on Monday, marking a synchronised action across the four nations. The protest also extended to the Adriatic Sea port of Bar in southern Montenegro, amplifying the disruption to trade routes. The drivers are specifically protesting the enforcement of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), an electronic check system launched in October to modernise the management of the bloc's external borders.
Stricter Schengen Rules Create Professional Hardship
The full implementation of the EES, expected by April, aims to help prevent illegal migration and monitor permitted stays within EU countries. This means existing rules are being applied more rigorously, including the regulation that non-EU citizens are permitted to stay inside Europe's Schengen Area for only 90 days within any 180-day period. For truck drivers who regularly cross borders for deliveries, this quota is exhausted too rapidly, barring them from their usual routes for extended periods and causing severe operational difficulties.
Protesters are demanding a special exemption for professional drivers, reporting that dozens have already been detained and deported from the EU's free-travel zone for overstaying. "We are sorry it has come to this but we didn’t have a choice," stated truck driver Amir Hadzidedic during the protest at the Svilaj border crossing between Bosnia and EU member Croatia. "The only thing we are demanding with this protest is to be allowed to work, nothing else. We are asking for patience, because we have no other choice."
Political Warnings and Economic Consequences
The issue has escalated to diplomatic levels, with Serbia's Prime Minister Djuro Macut recently urging the EU's representative in the country to grant a special status for regional drivers. Macut warned that the problem threatens to "fully paralyze" transportation companies and inflict substantial damage on the economies of all Balkan nations, which rely heavily on cross-border freight. The protesting drivers have stated they will allow the passage of essential cargos such as medicine, live animals, weapons, and explosives through their blockades, but otherwise intend to maintain their position.
Broader Impact on Passenger Transport
The protest highlights wider transportation issues, as noted by another driver, Muhamed Kantic, who explained that the rules also adversely affect bus travel. "When our driver is detained, passengers are left alone on the bus and sometimes they wait a few hours until we find replacement drivers," he said. "This is not only harassment for drivers but for passengers as well." This underscores the ripple effects of the regulatory enforcement on both freight and passenger services across the region.
Regional Context and EU Aspirations
Six countries in the Western Balkans—Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro—are at various stages of the reform process required to join the 27-nation EU bloc. The current dispute over entry rules presents a significant practical challenge amidst these broader political aspirations for integration, highlighting tensions between regulatory harmonisation and the operational realities of regional economies.
