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Western Balkan drivers announce protests over Schengen stay rules
Transport associations and professional drivers from the Western Balkans have announced a series of protests to demand changes to Schengen Area stay rules. The primary grievance is the 90/180-day rule, which limits non-EU citizens to 90 days of stay within any 180-day period. Drivers argue this rule is incompatible with their profession, as they must frequently enter and exit the EU to transport goods, often resulting in being turned back at borders, facing deportations, or receiving entry bans.
As a first step, peaceful public gatherings are scheduled for August 31 in front of European Union Delegation offices in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Drivers report that more than 50 Serbian drivers were returned from Schengen borders in a single week.
If these demands are not met, transport associations have warned of more severe actions, including potential blockades of all border crossings leading to the EU starting September 14. Such actions could significantly disrupt supply chains and the movement of goods between the Western Balkans and the European Union.
Entities
381 Drivers Association · EU Delegation · EU Delegation in Belgrade · European Commission · International Transport Association · Međunarodni transport · Schengen Area · Srđan Tošić · Western Balkans · Đorđije Lješnjak
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 14 SOURCES] The core grievance is the Schengen rule limiting non-EU citizens to 90 days of stay within any 180-day period. n1info.rs · rtnk.me · biznis.kurir.rs · 6yka.com · face.ba · +9 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] A peaceful public gathering is scheduled for August 31 in front of EU Delegation offices in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. n1info.rs · rtnk.me · biznis.kurir.rs · 6yka.com · face.ba · +7 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Transport associations argue that professional drivers should be treated as a special category with longer permitted stay periods. n1info.rs · www.danas.rs · 6yka.com · racin.mk · face.ba
- [● 8 SOURCES] If demands are not met, protests and border crossing blockades are planned to begin on September 14. n1info.rs · biznis.kurir.rs · 6yka.com · face.ba · radiosarajevo.ba · +3 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] More than 50 Serbian drivers were returned from Schengen borders within a single week. n1info.rs · 6yka.com · face.ba · otvoreno.me · radiosarajevo.ba