The opening of the new Gradiška border crossing has been delayed for over three months due to disagreements within the Governing Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ongoing lawsuits. As a result, both citizens and the economy are suffering, with losses measured in millions since the end of last year.
Citizens and the economy are the most affected by theseblockages, which stemmed from grand promises at the outset. The consequences of delayed opening of the new Gradiška border crossing over the Sava River between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are particularly severe for transport, trade, and logistics. In addition to long waits at the border and increased transport costs, losses have reached almost four million BAM since December 2025, according to the business representatives.
“The situation is serious. We expected this to happen. A lot was invested in the construction of the border crossing and the bridge. We hope this will be resolved soon, so that we can finally have another border crossing for the transport of goods and easier access to the EU market,” said Saša Aćić, President of the Union of Employers’ Associations of Republika Srpska.
This has not happened yet due to the decision of Zijad Krnjić, and expert on the Governing Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He refuses to vote for amendments to the Rulebook on the Job Classification Systemuntil decisions are made regarding the distribution of toll feesrevenues, and the determination of temporary coefficients for fund distribution for the October – December 2025 period. The ITA of Bosnia and Herzegovina has previously urged all relevant stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to urgently contribute to resolving this issue.
“We must remind once again that the amendments to the Rulebook, which establish a new organizational Customs Unit at the Gradiška Novi Most Border Crossing, are a precondition for fulfilling the other requirements necessary for the functioning of the customs service at this location, “ said the ITA of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
These requirements include determining the border crossing code for tracking the export and import of goods, providing IT support at the new location and access to the customs app, creating an organizational unit stamp, and meeting other requirements necessary for implementing customs procedures.
The ITA of Bosnia and Herzegovina urges the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to urgently address this issue, as it appointed Zijad Krnjić as the expert on the Governing Board of this institution. According to official data, over four million passengers and vehicles pass through the Gradiška Border Crossing. Among these passengers are a significant number of citizens and businesspeople from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We remind that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Republika Srpska has hired a team of lawyers to consider filing a criminal report against Krnjić and requesting compensation forthe damage inflicted on businesspeople. The judiciary has also received an appeal, and a strong message was sent to the authorities by the mayor of Banja Luka, Draško Stanivuković.
“Zijad, Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs are waiting. Our people are waiting – the ones this country disappointed long time ago and who, when they return, remember why they left,” said theMayor of Banja Luka, Draško Stanivuković, in a Facebook video while holding a photograph of Krnjić.
While Krnjić insists on his demands, the Minister of Finance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srđan Amidžić and the President of the ITA Governing Board of Bosnia and Herzegovina refuse to put this agenda on the table. There is also another lawsuit thatthe Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina filed last summer against Republika Srpska and the Governing Board of the ITA of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As usual, citizens and the economy areonce again adversely affected by political disputes.
“Unfortunately, we are in a stalemate and there is no solution in sight. Neither party will back down from their demands. It is important to note that these parallel political disputes will be brought up before the court, so it would be wise for political actors to reconsider, sit at the negotiating table, and find a compromise,” said Member of the Federal Parliament (MP) Admir Čavlić.
“It is clear that neither citizens nor the economy are a priority. I urge all political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to realize that they serve the citizens and the economy, not themselves,” said President of the Union of Employers’ Association of Republika Srpska, Saša Aćić.
In the meantime, the economic stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina is affected by the announced protests of professional drivers, which is another reason the business community insists that the “irregularities at the borders must be immediately put to an end.” They emphasized that closed borders, in addition to the suspension of production and export, would put thousands of jobs at risk. At least 20,000 workers arefacing consequences in the manufacturing industry.
