Cadez: Poor flow of goods and services at border crossings at Western Balkans becoming serious logistics problem for both region and Europe

Marko Cadez, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), announced an initiative for EU rapporteurs for the Western Balkans to meet with Serbian and regional business leaders to discuss the impact of non-tariff barriers on the economies of the region and the European Union.

Cadez met yesterday in Brussels with Tonino Picula, the European Parliament's rapporteur for Serbia, to discuss issues hindering economic cooperation in the Western Balkans. These include challenges related to the movement of goods, services, and people at border crossings with Croatia and the administrative line with Kosovo and Metohija, the CCIS announced.

– We addressed very specific issues we face at border crossings, including the transport of goods and necessary inspections, especially at crossings with Croatia – Cadez said.

He emphasized that those problems negatively affected trade and economic activity not only in Serbia but also in countries like Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, which rely on this transport corridor.

– This is becoming a major logistical issue. If 80% of Serbia's exports pass through the port of Rijeka to reach further markets, and there is no understanding from the EU about why improving the flow and transport of goods is essential, then this becomes a significant problem for European industry as well – Cadez stressed.

He also highlighted difficulties at the Merdare administrative crossing, where out of a capacity for 300 trucks per day, only 45 are allowed to pass. This, he noted, causes substantial damage.

– Croatian manufacturers operating in Serbia, for whom Kosovo is a major market, face significant problems simply because some politicians fail to understand how the economy works. We sought to clarify what the real, concrete problems are and how we can address them together – Cadez explained.

He added that European and Serbian manufacturers operated in Serbia, making it crucial to resolve those issues quickly through a meeting between WB officials and business leaders from Serbia and the region.

Privredna komora Srbije

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

CCIS

European Parliament

Merdare

Marko Čadež

Tonino Picula

border crossings

logistics