Western Balkans seek EU concessions for truckers as borders blocked for fourth day
Truckers maintain blockades on EU borders
Truck drivers in the Western Balkans maintained their blockades of cargo terminals on borders with the European Union on Thursday, as regional governments urged the EU to adjust rules they say add hundreds of millions of euros to operational costs.
Protests span multiple countries
While drivers in Montenegro and North Macedonia ended their blockades on EU borders begun on Monday, truckers in Bosnia and Serbia continued blocking border crossings, maintaining a unified protest across the region.
Drivers protest strict enforcement of EU travel rules
The demonstrations are primarily in response to the strict enforcement of EU rules that limit the number of days non-EU citizens can spend in the bloc’s free-travel area, with truckers demanding an extension to their allowed stay in the Schengen Area.
Protest demands focus on cost and access
Truckers argue that the current rules significantly increase freight costs and hinder cross-border trade, especially for countries in the Western Balkans that rely heavily on EU markets.