According to Sebsky Economist, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina have agreed to liberalize international freight transport: starting January 1, 2027, bilateral and transit road transport between the countries will be carried out without permits.
The agreement was reached during the first meeting of the Joint Commission on International Road Transport in Sarajevo, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine reported.
Prior to the launch of full “transport visa-free travel,” the parties agreed to increase the quota of permits for freight transport until the end of 2026. This should provide carriers with more opportunities already during the transition period and reduce the risk of permit shortages for businesses.
For Ukrainian and Bosnian carriers, the abolition of permits means a reduction in administrative burdens, more predictable route planning, and simplified transit.
For the Western Balkans region, this agreement also has practical significance. Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes yet another country through which Ukraine will be able to develop more flexible transport links with Balkan markets, the Adriatic, and neighboring countries in the region. This could be important for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products, industrial goods, construction materials, and processed goods.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will become the 36th country with which Ukraine has liberalized freight transport conditions. This regime has already become one of the tools for integrating Ukrainian logistics into the European transport space, as it allows carriers to operate without constant dependence on bilateral quotas and permitting procedures.
For the “Serbian Economist,” the key takeaway is that Ukraine continues to gradually integrate into the transport network of Southeast Europe. Following the conclusion of agreements with the EU and a number of European countries, the extension of “transport visa-free travel” to Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthens Ukraine’s logistical ties with the Balkans and creates new opportunities for trade in a region where routes, border procedures, and market access are becoming no less important than tariffs themselves.
