Western Balkan Truck Drivers Block Borders Protesting EU Entry/Exit System

Coordinated Blockade Disrupts Regional Transport

Truck drivers from several Western Balkan countries, including Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia, commenced a coordinated blockade of freight border crossings on January 26, 2026, at noon. The action, initially planned for 48 hours, is a protest against the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) and the stricter application of the 90-day stay rule within a 180-day period in the Schengen Area. Drivers argue that these regulations severely impact their ability to work and threaten their livelihoods.

The protests have led to significant disruptions in road transport and logistics corridors across Southeast Europe. While essential cargo such as medicine and live animals, along with passenger traffic, is generally being allowed through, the blockade has halted other freight movements. Estimates suggest that the direct damage from blocked crossings and exports from the Western Balkans amounts to approximately €100 million per day.

The Core of the Grievance: EU's Entry/Exit System and Stay Rules

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), which began gradual implementation in October 2025 and is set to be fully operational by April 2026, aims to enhance border management and prevent illegal migration through biometric entry and exit controls. While the 90-day stay rule itself is not new, the EES has enabled its stricter enforcement, creating operational challenges for non-EU professional drivers.

Drivers contend that they quickly exhaust their allotted 90 days, making it impossible to continue their work. They are calling for an exemption for professional drivers or a special status that recognizes them as essential cross-border workers, rather than treating them as tourists. Amir Hadzidedic, a truck driver, stated, 'We are sorry it has come to this, but we didn't have a choice. The only thing we are demanding with this protest is to be allowed to work, nothing else. We are asking for patience, because we have no other choice.'

Impact Across the Region and Montenegrin Specifics

The blockade has affected numerous border crossings. In Montenegro, the protest included the vital Port of Bar, an important logistics hub. Montenegrin transporters also parked trucks near several border crossings with neighboring countries, including:

• Croatia: Debeli brijeg (Karasovići) and Ilino brdo (Vitaljina)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vraćenovići, Metaljka, Dračenovac, and Ranče
• Serbia: Dobrakovo
• Albania: Božaj
• Kosovo: Kula

Neđo Mandić, President of the Association of Carriers of Serbia, highlighted the coordinated nature of the protest, stating, 'The entire Schengen Area is blocked by Bosnian, Montenegrin, Serbian and North Macedonian truck drivers. We all started at the same time, we all have the same requirements, and we all hold all borders towards the Schengen Area.' Vesko Šljivančanin, director of the Association of International Hauliers of Montenegro, emphasized the existential nature of the protest, saying, 'We are fighting for our companies to be competitive within the region, fighting for our employees, for our families, for our very existence.'

EU Response and Future Outlook

The European Commission is aware of the concerns raised by transport operators. Markus Lammert, a European Commission spokesman, confirmed that the Commission is closely monitoring the situation and examining options that could allow longer stays in the Schengen Area for highly mobile professions, including truck drivers, athletes, and artists. Lammert clarified that the EES does not introduce new rules but rather ensures better enforcement of existing ones. The issue is expected to be discussed further in the context of the upcoming Visa Strategy.

Despite these assurances, transport operators have indicated that protests will continue until a concrete solution is found. Velibor Peulić, main coordinator of the Consortium 'Logistics BiH', warned that without changes, the region faces a serious crisis that could disrupt supply chains, potentially reducing domestic transport companies' capacity by up to two-thirds by year-end.