Bosnian hauliers suspend border blockades following government meeting

The decision was reached following a high-level meeting at the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). Members of the "Logistika" Consortium met with FBiH Prime Minister Nermin Niksic, after which it was confirmed that the obstruction of border crossings within BiH has ended.

The regional protest, which initially included hauliers from Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, began on Monday. The primary grievance remains the significant logistical challenges drivers face while transiting through the European Union. Carriers from Montenegro and North Macedonia had already withdrawn from the blockade yesterday, expressing satisfaction with the fulfillment of their specific demands and the EU's announcements regarding visa regime changes for "highly mobile professions."

The core issue involves the current EU regulation that limits non-EU drivers to a 90-day stay within any 180-day period. Under these rules, truck drivers are treated as tourists, leaving them vulnerable to deportations, heavy fines, and detention once their allotted days are exhausted.

Earlier on Friday, Bosnian carriers noted that they welcome the European Commission's decision to address the entry and labour issues of freight vehicle drivers within the European Strategy for Asylum and Migration Management, presented yesterday in Brussels. However, they cautioned that while this recognition is a positive step, the problem has not yet been fully resolved.

Despite these lingering concerns, the successful mediation at the FBiH Government level has proven effective in restoring the flow of international trade through the country's border checkpoints.