Bosnia’s Transport Minister calls for urgent EU action on status of professional drivers

The meeting addressed the need for urgent and concrete solutions, given the direct consequences that existing EU rules have on the transport sector, supply chains and the wider regional economy.

“Professional drivers are not a security risk for the EU, but people who responsibly do their jobs. That is why we must find pragmatic solutions within the existing European framework,” Forto said. He added that Bosnia has already submitted concrete proposals both bilaterally to Croatia and directly to the European Commission.

“I expect these proposals to be considered as soon as possible, because we no longer have time to wait,” Forto said.

In addition to transport ministers, the meeting was attended by ministers of foreign affairs, security and interior affairs, marking the first time the issue has been discussed within the full scope of all relevant policy areas.

Forto stressed that such a comprehensive approach is essential for achieving long-term solutions, noting that the residence and work status of professional drivers is directly linked to migration policy, security procedures and international relations, and therefore requires coordinated action across multiple ministries.

At the end of the meeting, participants agreed to establish a working group that will, in the coming period, draft proposed solutions to the problems faced by professional drivers and submit them to the European Commission.

“We see that the protests held last week triggered some alarms within the European Commission, but unfortunately we have not heard any concrete solutions,” Forto said.

Ahead of the ministerial meeting, Forto also met with the Director of the Transport Community, Matej Zakonjsek, and ambassadors from Western Balkan countries to discuss the possibility of clearer and more proportionate regulation of the status of professional drivers within the ongoing revision of the Transport Community Treaty, the ministry said.

The ministry recalled that Forto had previously proposed to the Director-General for Mobility and Transport that professional drivers employed by licensed carriers be allowed free movement within the EU exclusively for the purpose of performing international road transport operations.