Bosnian truck drivers block goods movement over EU stay cap

Truck drivers across Bosnia-Herzegovina staged large-scale protests on Monday, blocking the movement of goods nationwide in response to what they described as a lack of government support for the transport sector and dissatisfaction with European Union restrictions on drivers’ stay.

According to the motor vehicle club BIHAMK, around 600 trucks were parked near cargo customs terminals in Sarajevo, as well as at border crossings with Croatia and Serbia. While passenger traffic was not directly blocked, it has slowed significantly.

The demonstrations were organized by Logistika, an association representing 47,000 workers and 600 companies in the transport industry, under the slogan “That’s enough.” The group said negotiations with Bosnia’s multiple layers of government had dragged on for months without progress.

“Our supply chains have been halted across the country,” said Velimir Peulić, Logistika’s chief coordinator, at a press briefing.

The sector, valued at €4.7 billion, faces major challenges, including heavy taxes, administrative barriers, and an EU regulation limiting Bosnian truck drivers to 90 consecutive days of stay within the bloc, out of a total of 180 days per year.

Peulić stressed that this rule has pushed many companies to re-register in EU member states like Croatia and Slovenia, while also prompting drivers to leave Bosnia for work abroad. He added that 48 Bosnian drivers had been detained in the EU for exceeding the 90-day limit.

“Stop arresting us in the EU,” Peulić urged, insisting that drivers were only fulfilling their professional duties.

The truckers are also demanding a refund on fuel excise taxes, faster border procedures, and greater digitalization to cut bureaucracy and waiting times.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Communications and Transportation Ministry said it had already begun addressing some administrative barriers and expected to finalize the changes by next month. However, Peulić confirmed that protests would continue as talks with the government move forward.