Minister of Transport and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto, participated today in a ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans and European Commission ministers, dedicated to the challenges professional drivers face regarding residence and work within the European Union. During the meeting, participants discussed the urgent need for concrete solutions, given the direct impact of current regulations on the transport sector, supply chains, and the regional economy.
“Professional drivers are not a safety risk for the EU, but people who conscientiously do their jobs. That is why we need to find pragmatic solutions within the existing European framework,” said Minister Forto. “We have already submitted concrete proposals bilaterally to both the Republic of Croatia and the European Commission. I expect these proposals to be reviewed as a matter of urgency, because time is running out,” he added.
The meeting, in addition to the relevant transport ministers, was attended by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Security/Internal Affairs, marking the first time this issue was addressed under the full authority of all relevant ministries. Minister Forto emphasized that this comprehensive approach is essential for achieving long-term solutions, as the matter of professional drivers’ residence and work directly affects migration policies, security procedures, and international relations, and requires coordinated action among multiple ministries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed that a working group would be established to develop proposals for resolving the issues facing professional drivers, which will be submitted to the European Commission.
“We see that the protests held last week triggered some alarms within the European Commission, but unfortunately, we have not heard any concrete solutions,” Forto added.
Prior to the ministerial meeting, Minister Forto met with the CEO of the Transport Community, Matej Zakonjšek, and with ambassadors of the Western Balkans member states, to discuss the possibility of a clearer and more proportional regulation of professional drivers’ status within the framework of the ongoing revision of the Transport Community Agreement.
It is recalled that Minister Forto had previously proposed to the Director-General of Mobility and Transport that professional drivers employed by licensed carriers be granted free movement within the EU solely for the purpose of conducting international road transport, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
