Drivers submit letter to EU Delegation: Resolve residency issue or new border blockade from September 14

Transporters from the Western Balkans gathered today at noon in front of the headquarters of the European Union delegations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, with a demand to resolve the issue of limited residency of professional drivers from the Western Balkans in the Schengen countries.

The drivers submitted a letter to the EU Delegation at four addresses, stating that they want to work in the European Union, but do not want to reside in the European Union and asking that Brussels not treat them as ordinary tourists, applying the rule of a maximum stay of 90 days in a 180-day period.

– I think this is a political process. We received two letters in two days. One was disastrous, telling us that nothing will change, that we should adapt to 90 in 180. The second is as polite as it could be. It says “we are doing everything we can to find a solution, but many laws need to be changed, until we change it, it is a problem” – said Nedjo Mandic, president of the association of professional drivers, in front of the headquarters of the EU Delegation.

He pointed out that the drivers reacted to this by saying that in an emergency situation a decision is made that does not annul the laws, but suspends them for a certain period of time until a final solution is found. Mandic reminded that the drivers were in Brussels in 2014 and that they were then told that the EU was aware of the problem and that it would be solved through special visas. He added that they were in Brussels again on January 29 and that they were also told that they were aware of the problem and that visas would be issued to professional drivers.

– Seven months have passed and nothing has happened. We cannot wait, our companies will close. That will be a loss for us and our economy – Mandic pointed out.

Professional drivers note that the situation is alarming, and as an example, they cite a company from Serbia that has 11 drivers, and five of them were returned from the Schengen border today alone. Therefore, the drivers have warned that they will again resort to radical measures if a solution is not found. They announce a blockade of border crossings from September 14 until the demands are met.

Neđo Mandić

transporters from Western Balkans

limited stay of professional drivers from Western Balkans in Schengen countries

Schengen

Schengen zone

EES