Transport associations from the Western Balkans have sounded the alarm: New Schengen rules could completely halt freight traffic with the European Union from April. The industry is on the brink of an abyss.
Schengen borders on the verge of collapse
If a solution is not found by April 10 for the new conditions for entry into the EU, freight traffic between the Western Balkans and the Union could be suspended. Transport associations from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are warning of the impending collapse of supply chains, writes the Austrian Kosmo.
For months, the associations have been desperately trying to convince European authorities that the new Schengen regulations are unenforceable for professional drivers from third countries. They fear that drivers and their goods could be turned away en masse at the borders in the future.
“We have been addressing the European Commission for years, and especially intensively over the past year,” explains Neđo Mandić, president of the “International Transport” Association from Belgrade, adding:
“We also send all our warning letters to the local authorities so that they are informed about our efforts and to get their support.”
The recent warning signed in Bijeljina was forwarded to the European Commission, the ambassadors of all Schengen countries in Belgrade and Sarajevo, as well as the relevant institutions in both countries.
Rules that threaten existence
The essence of the problem lies in the fact that, under the new provisions, truck drivers effectively have only nine to ten working days left – which is too little for economically viable business, both for the drivers themselves and for transport companies.
“If nothing changes by April 10, 99.9 percent of drivers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia will no longer be able to enter the EU. This means a complete standstill of all trucks, disruption of supply chains and, ultimately, a collapse that no one wants,” warns Mandić.
He emphasizes that the basic idea of the Schengen Agreement – the fight against illegal migration and illegal work – is completely justified. The problem, he says, is in equating professional drivers with ordinary passengers.
“A truck driver is not a migrant, he is not a tourist and he does not work illegally. These are employed people with all the necessary documents – for themselves, the vehicle and the goods they transport – who enter legally every time,” he emphasizes.
The consequences, he says, could be dramatic.
“For drivers, this is a catastrophe. In order to ensure their existence, many will leave domestic companies and get jobs in Slovenian, German, Croatian or other companies from the EU, where they can work normally. Transporters from the Western Balkans would then face ruin – they would have trucks and infrastructure, but no drivers,” says Mandić.
Threat of blockades
At the same time, EU transporters are unlikely to send their vehicles to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina if they have to agree to several days of waiting at the borders.
“In the past ten days, there have been waits of up to three days at the Batrovci border crossing. If you need three days to enter and another three to exit – how can you possibly work, earn money and survive?”, says Mandić.
The transport sector has been under enormous pressure for three months. If there are no positive signals by January 15 that point to a solution before the critical April 10, the associations believe that blockades are inevitable.
“We would not stop all traffic – no one wants to disrupt passenger traffic. We would only block freight terminals at border crossings, because we are fighting for the survival of our companies. And that is only possible if we keep our drivers and prevent them from leaving for other countries,” explained Mandić.
