According to Serbian Economist, the European Commission is preparing decisions within the framework of the new EU visa strategy, which should alleviate some of the problems for carriers from the Western Balkan countries amid the ongoing blockades of freight terminals on the borders with the European Union.
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Hena Virkkunen said that the EC is aware of the difficulties faced by transport operators in the region due to the application of Schengen rules and stressed that the Entry/Exit System (EES) does not introduce new requirements for short stays. EES) does not introduce new requirements for short-term stays. At the same time, she said, the European Commission is seeking “more flexibility without compromising security” and “is addressing this issue as part of its visa strategy.”
In recent days, truck drivers in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have been blocking access to freight terminals on the EU border in protest against stricter enforcement of the 90-day stay rule within a 180-day period in the Schengen area, which, according to business estimates, leads to the detention and deportation of drivers and increases costs for carriers.
Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Marko Čadež previously stated that the blockades are estimated to have halted up to 93% of exports from the countries involved and caused daily losses of around €92 million, with companies incurring additional penalties for delivery disruptions.
The European Commission has indicated that the problem also affects other “highly mobile” professions, and solutions will be developed as part of a new visa strategy.
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