Truck drivers from North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro began a coordinated protest at several border crossings against the EU’s new border control system, on January 26. 

The action was intended to draw attention to the problems professional drivers face under the new rules and to underline their position that they should not be treated as tourists.

At the busy Blace border crossing between North Macedonia and Kosovo, dozens of trucks were parked in the exit lanes, effectively blocking the movement of heavy goods vehicles.

Similar blockades and slowdowns were organised in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, reflecting a joint regional response by transporters to the changes introduced by the European Union.

The protest was triggered by the introduction of the EU’s electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) and the stricter enforcement of the rule limiting the stay of non-EU citizens in the Schengen area to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Although this rule has been in place for years, drivers say that its application through the new digital system will significantly restrict their ability to work.

They argue that international transport, which involves continuous cross-border movement and long routes, cannot function under regulations designed primarily for tourists and short-term visitors.

At Blace, the president of the transport association Makam-trans, Biljana Muratovska, explained that the blockade would be lifted only for vehicles carrying essential and sensitive goods, such as medicines, livestock, explosives and ammunition, TV21 reported. Everyone else would remain parked in solidarity.

Her message was blunt: “The profession of a professional driver is neither a tourist nor a migrant. He works in his own country, the vehicles are registered in his country, and the EU wants to ban us from working.”

Her words captured the frustration of thousands of drivers across the region. Transport between the Western Balkans and the EU is governed by bilateral agreements that allow reciprocal access and the exchange of permits.

For years, this system has ensured the smooth flow of goods and supported regional economies that are heavily dependent on trade with the Schengen zone. Now, drivers are being told that even with valid permits, they may not be able to work because they have exceeded their allowed “stay” as individuals.

This contradiction lies at the heart of the protest: drivers are not entering Schengen countries to live, settle or travel, but to perform a professional service that underpins European supply chains.

Treating them as ordinary visitors ignores the realities of international transport and risks paralysing a sector that is already under pressure from rising costs, labour shortages and complex regulations.

North Macedonia’s Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski came personally to the Blace border crossing to express the government’s support. He described the action as a seven-day warning protest and stressed that the months of February and March must be used to find a solution before the system is fully enforced from April 10 onwards.

Nikoloski outlined three possible paths forward. The first is to postpone the implementation of the electronic system for transporters. The second is to increase the number of days drivers can stay in the Schengen area from 180 to at least 250, divided into appropriate cycles.

The third is to stop treating professional drivers as tourists altogether and either exempt them from these rules or regulate their stay through special work visas, as Switzerland already does, according to the transport ministry’s statement.

He warned that the consequences of ignoring this problem would not be confined to the Western Balkans. “It will have major consequences for the Macedonian, regional and European economy,” he said, pointing out that most foreign investment in the region comes from the EU and Schengen countries.

Factories in North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia produce semi-finished goods that are exported back to the EU, often by road. Agricultural exports, transit traffic and the flow of goods along Corridor X – the main trade artery of Southeast Europe – all depend on efficient transport. Blocking drivers means blocking the bloodstream of the economy.

In Montenegro, the Association of Transporters parked trucks near several border crossings. Six trucks were stationed near Tuzi, close to the Bozaj crossing, while around 20 vehicles blocked access to the Port of Bar’s free zone terminal, Vijesti reported.

In Bosnia, the Logistics Consortium announced coordinated protests at cargo border crossings with the EU, warning that the new rules put professional drivers at risk of arrests, deportations and bans on entering the Schengen area.

Serbian media reported that the new rules could lead to the collapse of domestic transport companies and accelerate the emigration of drivers to EU countries.

For many in the industry, this is not an abstract policy debate but a question of survival. International transport relies on long tours that can easily exceed 90 days within a six-month period.

A driver may cross multiple Schengen countries in a single route, accumulating “days” even if they spend most of their time inside a truck or at loading terminals. Under the new system, experienced drivers risk being forced to stop working midway through a contract because they have “used up” their permitted stay.

If Western Balkan drivers are pushed out of their domestic companies, many may seek employment directly in EU states, undermining transport firms in their home countries.

The European Commission has acknowledged the problem. Its spokesman, Markus Lammert, said that many third-country nationals, including truck drivers, athletes and travelling artists, need to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days for professional reasons.

He confirmed that the issue is being considered as part of a new EU visa strategy expected to be presented this week and that the Commission is in contact with Western Balkan partners, Serbian broadcaster RTS reported.

However, he also stressed that the rules themselves are not new and that the Entry/Exit System merely enforces them more efficiently.

The disruptions have drawn concern from the business community in Kosovo. The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KKC) warned that ongoing protests by transport companies in neighbouring countries are affecting Kosovo businesses and international trade flows. The chamber highlighted that exports and imports to and from EU countries have been directly hindered, causing delays, rising costs for companies, and risks to supply chains, RTK reported.

Lulzim Rafuna, president of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce said the issue has been regularly raised with EU institutions, urging a sustainable solution. “Ensuring smooth trade and maintaining stable supply chains between the EU and Western Balkan countries is a shared interest for the region,” Rafuna said. 

What is happening now is more than a protest about border procedures. Truck drivers are asking not for privilege, but for recognition of their professional status. They are asking to be seen as workers essential to Europe’s economy, not as visitors subject to short-term stay rules.

As trucks remain parked at border crossings and ports, the message is that if Europe wants trade to continue smoothly, its rules must reflect the reality of how transport works. 

“I spoke on Friday with the Greek Minister of Transport, because they are also affected—without North Macedonia and Serbia, they cannot export goods by road. On Wednesday [January 28], I will go to Zagreb to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of Croatia, and I will also try to communicate with other countries to see if they can apply additional pressure on this situation,” said Nikoloski.