The European Commission has expressed concern over the announced protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, which have already caused significant disruptions in supply chains. They also confirmed that it is not possible to change the way residence is calculated, and that possible flexibilities can only be considered at the national level.
BiH Minister of Communications and Transport Edin Forto said that a more pragmatic approach was requested from the European Commission.
“Croatia has already initiated changes to the Law on Foreigners, which would enable professional drivers from third countries, with the existence of formal business cooperation with a company registered in the Republic of Croatia, to obtain a national long-term visa,” the Ministry of Communications and Transport announced.
If the changes are adopted, the Ministry says, drivers would be able to stay in Croatia without applying the 90/180 rule, while the rule would still apply in other member states of the Schengen area.
“However, at this point, it is not certain when the proposed changes will be adopted, given that the legislative procedure can take months,” they emphasized.
Today, the second meeting of the working group organized by the European Commission was held with the aim of considering the implications of the application of the Entry/Exit System (EES) on professional drivers from the countries of the Western Balkans.
