Balkan truckers block borders over EU stay limits
Truck drivers from several non-EU Balkan countries blocked key border crossings on Monday, protesting stricter enforcement of European Union entry rules that they say threaten their livelihoods.
The coordinated action disrupted freight traffic in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro, including the Adriatic port of Bar. Drivers oppose the EU’s electronic Entry/Exit System (EES), launched in October, which tightens checks on how long non-EU citizens stay in the Schengen zone.
According to AP, under EU rules, non-EU nationals may remain in the Schengen Area for only 90 days within any 180-day period. Drivers who cross borders frequently say they quickly exceed the limit and are then barred from working their regular routes. Some report detentions and deportations for overstaying.
Protesters are demanding exemptions for professional drivers. “We are only asking to be allowed to work,” said Bosnian trucker Amir Hadzidedic at the Bosnia-Croatia border.
The European Commission said it is monitoring the situation and acknowledged the concerns of professionals who may need longer stays, though it stressed the 90-day rule is not new.
Serbia’s prime minister has warned the rules could paralyze regional transport and damage Balkan economies. Drivers say they will continue the blockades while allowing essential goods, including medicine and live animals, to pass.
