Western Balkans Truckers Threaten EU Border Blockade Over Schengen 90-Day Rule
Truck drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have threatened to block EU border crossings on September 14 unless Brussels changes Schengen rules limiting non-EU drivers to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Hundreds of drivers protested across the region, arguing that the rule severely limits their ability to work because they regularly transport goods between Western Balkan countries and EU markets.
The dispute has intensified following the rollout of the EU’s electronic Entry/Exit System, which makes it easier to track how long non-EU nationals remain in the Schengen area.
The European Commission has discussed bilateral agreements with individual countries, but drivers say they want a solution covering the entire Schengen zone.
A blockade could seriously disrupt regional trade, potentially delaying shipments of food, fuel, medicines and industrial goods while increasing costs for businesses and consumers. The EU accounts for more than 60 percent of Western Balkan trade.
Drivers say they are not tourists or migrants but professional workers with international permits. They are demanding a special arrangement that would allow them to spend more time in the Schengen area while continuing their jobs.
