The registration of entry and exit of professional drivers at border crossings during transport through EU countries, in line with the Entry/Exit System (EES), will drastically increase operating costs for companies, jeopardize the stability of trade flows between the European Union and the Western Balkans, and place professional drivers in international road transport in a disadvantaged position—particularly with regard to the application of the 90/180-day rule. This was the conclusion of a meeting of the Management Board of the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), following which a joint appeal will be submitted to the European Commission.

At the same time, protest actions have been announced for 26 January in several Western Balkans countries to disrupt the movement of goods toward the European Union. This development raises serious economic and political concerns. For the Western Balkans, approximately 60% of total foreign trade and around 370,000 companies are directly affected, as the proper functioning of suppliers and clients is called into question, while supply security and price stability are also being undermined.

The announced protests are organized by professional drivers and are directed against shortcomings in the current border regime that emerged following the termination of the profession-specific visa and residence arrangements in certain EU member states. Although it is positive that in recent years the Schengen Agreement has been applied flexibly for professional drivers—thus, in principle, enabling visa-free travel—it is not suitable for long-term commercial road freight transport that involves regular, predictable, and permanently required border crossings and stays.

The problem is that the application of the 90/180-day rule has significantly increased demand for drivers, leading either to a substantial rise in costs or, in some cases, to partial suspension of transport operations. Recently introduced identity and biometric checks, with waiting times of up to several days, are not sustainable for the transport of goods. This situation is likely incompatible both with the objectives of the EU internal market and with the goal of economic integration of the Western Balkans with the European Union.

In its appeal to the European Commission, the WB6 notes that “in the longer term, an adjustment of the Schengen Borders Code may be considered. In the short to medium term, however, it is necessary to develop coordinated and pragmatic solutions together with those Member States that are particularly central to trade with the Western Balkans. Residence permits could, from both a technical and legal perspective, be issued through digital pre-registration procedures.“

The Management Board reminded that the European Union represents the most important export market for the Western Balkans, with more than three quarters of the region’s total exports destined for the EU. For this reason, the stability of supply chains, regulatory predictability, and the unhindered flow of goods are not merely technical issues, but strategic interests for both the region and the European Union.