Balkan hauliers launch blockade over EES enforcement

UK hauliers are not alone with their dismay with the tightening of Schengen rules and the introduction of the digital Entry Exit System (EES) to enforce the maximum stay of 90 days in a rolling 180-day period for third country nationals. Tensions between hauliers based in the Balkan countries and the EU enforcement agencies have, “reached the point where our drivers, and we as operators have effectively been deprived of the right to work, because our drivers are being arrested in the EU”, stated a Bosnian transport representative.

Last year over 100 Bosnian drivers were deported from the EU for exceeding the 90 days stay, deportations are steadily increasing since the introduction of EES on October 12th, 2025, which will be fully implemented on April 10th this year, which could be an ominous sign of things to come for UK drivers working in Europe.

As with UK hauliers, transport companies across the Western Balkans, from Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, have been lobbying the EU for two years for a solution for professional drivers to no avail, the current rules are treating truck drivers with same enforcement vigour as attempted migrants. Transport organisations have been open to any solutions such as a special visa or permit, increasing the number of days allowed for drivers or exempting drivers from the EES system altogether until a compromise can be found. The EU response so far is to restate that EES is not introducing new rules but merely allows better enforcement of existing Schenegn time limits, and the issue would be discussed whenever the EU’s visa strategy is reviewed.

A seven-day blockade began on January 26th this week, the main border crossings between the EU and the Western Balkans have been blocked by protesting hauliers, essentially disrupting trade between the EU markets via Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece and the Middle East.

Hauliers affected by the 90/180 rule say their business model has become unsustainable, with earnings ability reduced down to approximately 7000 to 8000 kms per month compared to 15,000 kms that unrestricted EU operators can achieve. Protesting drivers said they will allow cargo such as medicine, live animals and explosives through the border only. Coach operators are equally affected, with reports that when coach drivers are arrested for breaking the time limits the passengers are left on board without facilities until a replacement driver can be found which could be many hours.

The economic damage to the region over the blockade period is estimated to be around 100 million euros. Similar to the UK, the regions economy is intrinsically linked into EU supply chains, particularly in the automotive, manufacturing and textile sectors which operate on just in time transport, once again showing how cross border supply chains can be.