CALL FOR TRANSPORT OPERATORS TO STEP UP DIALOGUE WITH THE EU INSTEAD OF PROTESTING

SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 11 /SRNA/ - The Ministry of Communications and Transport in the BiH Council of Ministers has called on transport operators to engage in even more intensive dialogue with the institutions, the European Commission and EU member states, instead of going ahead with the protest announced for September 14, to resolve the issue of applying the Schengen 90/180-day rule to professional drivers from the Western Balkans.

The ministry said that certain progress has been made, including the acceptance of arguments that professional drivers do not stay in the EU for tourism purposes, do not pose a migration risk, do not use social welfare systems, and enter the EU solely to carry out international transport operations. “In light of this progress, we expect the European Commission to make additional efforts so that an operational solution can be found soon, in the interest of further economic development,” the ministry said today. Minister of Communications and Transport in the Council of Ministers Edin Forto warned that this issue goes far beyond the transport sector and that all institutions need to become more actively involved in addressing these fundamental issues for the future of the transport sector. "It is important to make it clear where this problem can be resolved. The Schengen rules are not set by BiH, and our institutions cannot unilaterally change them," Forto said, adding that decisions on the matter are made by the EU and the countries belonging to the Schengen Area. Transport operators from BiH, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia have announced a coordinated protest at border crossings with the EU on Monday, September 14, over the application of the Schengen 90/180-day rule to professional drivers from the Western Balkans, after previous protests outside the EU Delegation in BiH failed to produce a concrete solution.