Ankara: Truck and freight transporters across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia staged protests on Monday against the current restrictions on the length of stay for professional drivers in the Schengen area. According to local media reports, these protests were strategically organized outside EU delegations in the capitals of Sarajevo, Belgrade, Podgorica, and Skopje, preceding a significant meeting scheduled for September 1 in Brussels, where the contentious issue is expected to be discussed.
According to Anadolu Agency, the transporters are advocating for a revision of the 90/180-day rule, which currently limits citizens of non-EU countries to a maximum stay of 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen area. This rule presents logistical challenges for professional drivers who frequently enter the Schengen zone for work-related purposes.
In Sarajevo, protestors assembled near the Bosnian parliament before proceeding to the EU delegation. Nikola Brkovic, representing the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that drivers from the region should be recognized differently from tourists and migrants due to their work commitments in the Schengen area.
In Belgrade, transporters converged outside the EU delegation, submitting a formal letter urging a reassessment of the current restrictions. Dusan Nikolic from Serbia's International Transport Association indicated that, should no resolution be achieved, further protests might be organized at border crossings on September 14.
In Podgorica, Dordije Ljesnjak, President of the Transporters Association, stated that the protest aimed to highlight the pressing issue in anticipation of the upcoming discussions among Schengen countries. He clarified that the protest was not against the EU but was instead a call for a viable solution to secure the rights of professional drivers and the survival of Montenegrin transport companies.
In Skopje, the protest was coordinated by the Makam-Trans association outside the EU delegation. Biljana Muratovska, the Secretary General of Makam-Trans, expressed frustration over the seven-month wait for a resolution and urged the inclusion of the issue on the Brussels meeting agenda. North Macedonia's Transport Minister, Aleksandar Nikolloski, assured that the government is actively pursuing bilateral agreements with Schengen countries to resolve the issue, noting that agreements had been finalized with Switzerland, Croatia, and Romania, with further negotiations planned with Austria, Slovenia, and Germany.
The transporters have cautioned that if no satisfactory outcome emerges from the Brussels meeting, additional protests may occur at EU border crossings on September 14. The ongoing issue has been under deliberation since Western Balkan transporters initially protested in January against the enforcement of Schengen stay rules. The European Commission has since acknowledged the concerns raised by professional drivers, promising to address them.