EditBrussels seeks solution as Balkan truck drivers block EU borders over Schengen stay limits
Protests by transport operators from the Western Balkans highlight growing tensions over the EU’s Entry-Exit System and the 90/180-day rule
The European Commission is working on possible solutions that would allow professional drivers to stay longer in the Schengen area, Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said on Monday, reacting to coordinated protests by transport operators from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.
On the same day, truck drivers from the four countries blocked commercial border crossings with EU member states, demanding changes to the rules governing their entry and stay in Schengen. The protests have caused significant disruptions to road transport and logistics corridors across Southeast Europe.
Under current Schengen rules, professional drivers from non-EU countries may stay in the EU for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period. While the rule itself is not new, it has become a major operational problem for the transport sector since the introduction of biometric entry and exit controls at the EU’s external borders on 12 October 2025. The new system replaced passport stamps with digital registration of entries and exits, enabling stricter enforcement of the existing limits.
Lammert acknowledged that the EU institutions are aware of the concerns raised by transport operators. According to him, the Commission is examining options that could allow longer stays in Schengen than those currently provided for under existing rules, not only for professional drivers.
He added that this includes highly mobile professions such as truck drivers, but also athletes and touring artists. Lammert stressed that the Entry-Exit System does not introduce new rules beyond those already set out in the Schengen acquis but ensures better enforcement of the existing rules, as well as more efficient and systematic detection of irregular practices.
Despite these assurances, transport operators said the protests would continue until a concrete solution is found. Since 26 January, drivers have been blocking freight border crossings across a wide arc of borders, from Gevgelija in North Macedonia to north-western crossings near the Una River.
Velibor Peulić, main coordinator of the Consortium “Logistics BiH”, warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region are facing a serious crisis that could disrupt supply chains. According to him, if the current policy remains unchanged, domestic transport companies may be able to use only up to a third of their capacity by the end of the year. He said that around 33% of transport capacity in both Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is already unable to operate within the EU.
Transporters point out that most long-haul operations rely on a single driver per vehicle, without crew rotation, making it practically impossible to comply with the Schengen stay limits. In practice, drivers are allowed to work in the EU for three months and are then forced to return home for another three months, effectively losing half of their annual income.
Professional organisations in the region also argue that the European Commission has introduced exemptions for rail, maritime and air transport, while leaving out road transport, which accounts for around 94% of freight flows. Over the past two decades, they note, companies have invested more than €4 billion in fleets and infrastructure without substantial EU support, making the current restrictions particularly acute.
Another major concern is the risk of deportations and entry bans. According to data cited by the Consortium, dozens of drivers were deported from EU countries over the past year, while more than a hundred entry bans are currently in force. Peulić cited the case of a young driver from Bosnia and Herzegovina who was detained for 48 hours in Austria solely because of his nationality.
Transport associations warn that the crisis affects not only their businesses, but also the European market as a whole. The EU is already facing a shortage of around 500,000 professional drivers, while higher transport costs are expected to be passed on to consumers. According to Peulić, transport operations that currently cost €3,000 could rise to €10,000.
Trade unions have called for immediate political dialogue between their governments and the European Commission, warning that without changes, international road transport for many Balkan companies will become practically impossible. They insist that professional drivers should not be treated as tourists, asylum seekers or security risks, but as essential workers in the European supply chain.
Sources: BGNES, IBNA
A protest sign in front of a lorry at the Serbia-Hungary border during the blockade of the cargo line at the Horgos border crossing in northern Serbia, 26 January 2026. All border crossings in the country and the wider region are blocked to freight traffic starting 26 January at noon, following a coordinated protest by truck operators from North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The carriers suspend transit toward the European Union in opposition to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which introduces revised rules for calculating drivers’ days of stay in the Schengen Area. EPA/Edvard Molnar
Updated: January 27, 2026 - 06:46
