Schengen visa strategy to support transport professionals

North Macedonia is pursuing bilateral agreements with various Schengen Area countries to resolve visa issues for transport professionals. Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikolloski stated that because visa rules require EU consensus, a unified solution is difficult to achieve, necessitating individual negotiations with multiple states.

There is currently a lack of consensus within the Schengen Area regarding the approach. Germany advocates for a collective solution, whereas Czechia, Greece, Romania, and Croatia favor bilateral agreements. To mitigate challenges posed by the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES), some nations are already adjusting their processes; for instance, Romania plans to calculate stays by hours rather than days, while Greece and Czechia are implementing legislative changes.

Additionally, the European Union plans to recognize professional residency within EU countries next year, a move expected to include the transport sector.