Urgent call for action as EU launches waves of forced returns against Bosnia's transport sector

According to an official statement, the situation has escalated to include 100 days of collective detention for drivers held in EU centers. The crisis intensified yesterday as authorities in Germany, Austria, Poland, and other nations confirmed the processing of an additional 100 new deportation cases.

Professionalism met with repression

The Consortium clarified that these "forced returns" occur when individuals are declared to be staying "illegally" based on formal interpretations of residence risk. Consequently, drivers are being forcibly removed regardless of their valid employment contracts, legal documentation, or professional status. These expulsions are being carried out against individuals who have not violated laws, have not sought asylum, and pose no security risk while performing essential duties in international transport.

Data reveals that in the past year, 100 professional drivers were deported from Germany alone simply for performing their jobs.

Demands for institutional action

The Logistika Consortium of BiH has issued an urgent call to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Communications and Transport, and the Council of Ministers of BiH. They are demanding an immediate alignment of an official operational position with the European Commission. The Consortium warned that without swift intervention, another 100 citizens will face forced return in the near future solely due to their employment.

The EES pretext rejected

The statement further addressed the "deliberate and incorrect" parallels being drawn between these repressive measures and the Entry/Exit System (EES). The Consortium emphasized that the hardships faced by professional drivers have no technical connection to the EES. They argue that the system cannot be used as a pretext for detentions, deportations, or entry bans if the European Commission truly advocates for equality and non-discrimination.

"Unfortunately, the European Commission avoids providing a substantive explanation of the problem, responding with brief and formal replies without assuming responsibility," the Logistika Consortium stated. They expressed deep concern that the sector is being told EU member states can decide independently, which effectively absolves the European Commission of its duty to ensure uniform, non-discriminatory rule application.