[INTERNATIONAL] · Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Croatia · 100 sources

started about 1 month ago · updated about 1 month ago

Part of situation: Western Balkans transport dispute over Schengen rules (9 clusters)

Western Balkan drivers protest Schengen stay limits

Schengen rules professional drivers Western Balkans transportation protest EU border crossings

Professional drivers from the Western Balkans are conducting coordinated protests in Sarajevo, Belgrade, Podgorica, and Skopje. They are demanding an exemption from the Schengen 90/180-day rule, which limits non-EU citizens to 90 days of stay within any 180-day period. Transporters argue that this rule treats professional drivers like tourists or migrants, creating significant logistical hurdles and increasing operational costs for the regional economy.

Approximately 100,000 drivers in the Western Balkans are affected by these restrictions. In North Macedonia alone, nearly 17,000 drivers face these limitations. Protesters have warned that if the European Commission does not provide a concrete solution, they will escalate their actions by blocking EU border crossings starting September 14.

The European Commission has responded by stating that while Schengen rules will not be changed, there are pragmatic solutions available. Spokesperson Markus Lamert suggested that drivers could seek long-term visas, residence permits, or, in specific cases, be treated as cross-border workers. The Commission noted that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to improve border transparency and security rather than introduce new stay requirements.

Entities

Biljana Muratovska · European Commission · European Union · European Union delegation · Logistics Consortium · Logistika BiH · Makam-Trans · Markus Lamert · Međunarodni transport · Neđo Mandić · Nikola Brković · Schengen Area

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] Approximately 17,000 professional drivers in North Macedonia are affected by the Schengen stay rules. trn.mk · lider.mk · skopskoeho.mk · www.brif.mk · skopjeinfo.mk · +2 more
[● 21 SOURCES] The European Commission will discuss the status of Western Balkan drivers on September 1. infobirac.net · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · trn.mk · lider.mk · skopskoeho.mk · +13 more
[● 25 SOURCES] Professional drivers from the Western Balkans are protesting the 90/180-day Schengen rule. infobirac.net · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · trn.mk · lider.mk · skopskoeho.mk · +19 more
[● 19 SOURCES] Transporters have threatened to block all EU border crossings on September 14 if no solution is reached by September 1. infobirac.net · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · trn.mk · lider.mk · skopskoeho.mk · +13 more
[● 24 SOURCES] Coordinated protests are taking place in Sarajevo, Belgrade, Podgorica, and Skopje. infobirac.net · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · trn.mk · lider.mk · skopskoeho.mk · +18 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The protest is a warning to the EU, which in the past seven months has not shown good will. almakos.com · ohridsky.com · lider.mk · skopskoeho.mk · biznisinfo.mk · +2 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 100,000 drivers in the Western Balkans are affected by the rule. trn.mk · makpress.mk · nacionalno.mk
[● 8 SOURCES] The 90/180-day rule treats professional drivers like tourists or migrants. almakos.com · infobirac.net · mostarski.ba · srpskacafe.com · novasloboda.ba · +3 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The 90/180-day rule is described as discrimination and a violation of human rights for professional drivers. makpress.mk · nacionalno.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] Nearly 17,000 professional drivers in North Macedonia are affected by the Schengen rules. makpress.mk · trn.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] Around 100,000 drivers in the Western Balkans are affected by the Schengen rule. makpress.mk · nacionalno.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Drivers face fines and entry bans of three to six months for violating the 90/180-day rule.