The claim by the leadership of the “Logistika BiH” Consortium – that the Ministry bears the primary responsibility for the departure of drivers and transport companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina – reflects neither the actual competencies of the institutions nor the activities undertaken during the recent period, the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH stated.
“Transport operators are facing serious challenges, and I fully understand their dissatisfaction. From the outset, I have maintained that the people who transport our goods across Europe must be able to perform their jobs under normal conditions. However, it is important for the public to understand which issues fall within our remit, which are the responsibility of other institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and which are decided by the European Union. Shifting the entire responsibility onto a single ministry will not solve any of these problems,” said Minister Edin Forto.
He noted that the issue of professional drivers’ stays within the Schengen Area is not a matter of Bosnian transport regulations, but rather of European Union rules governing the entry and stay of third-country nationals.
“The rule allowing for a 90-day stay within a 180-day period is not established – nor can it be altered—by the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH. Decisions regarding its application and any potential exceptions rest with the competent European Union institutions and member states,” the statement reads.
The Ministry further pointed out that, in the recent period, it has initiated regional coordination among Western Balkan states, held discussions with representatives of the European Commission and ambassadors of EU member states, and proposed concrete solutions for professional drivers. “We will continue to do our part, engage in discussions with European institutions, and insist that every competent institution assumes its responsibility. Our goal, as it has always been, is to ensure that our drivers can work, and that our transport companies can remain and develop in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” concluded Minister Forto.
