Truck drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that they will block border crossings starting March 23, protesting restrictions related to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES). The system limits citizens from non-EU countries to a maximum of 90 days within any 180 days, causing difficulties for professional drivers who often spend longer periods in the EU.
Serbian truckers, however, will not join the upcoming blockade. Instead, they plan to wait until April 10, when the European Commission is expected to provide official guidance or a temporary solution. Nedo Mandić, president of the International Transport Association, explained that Serbian drivers have not faced recent deportations, unlike their Bosnian counterparts, many of whom were returned at the Croatian border.
Mandić highlighted that interim solutions, such as long-term “D” visas proposed by Croatia, could help resolve the issue by allowing truckers to work in the EU without their days being counted toward the 90/180 limit. Other neighboring EU countries, including Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, would need to adopt similar measures for a full solution.
A technical working group of the European Commission is scheduled to meet next Thursday with Balkan countries and EU member states to address the problem. Mandić noted that the January blockade had halted 93% of regional exports, causing daily losses of around €92 million, underscoring the economic stakes.
While the EU remains firm that residency calculations cannot be changed at the EU level, some flexibility may be implemented nationally by individual member states. The Commission has urged all parties to find a coordinated solution before the full EES rules take effect in April.
