EU could soon lift restrictions for drivers from the Balkans

(Patria) - Truck carriers from the Western Balkan countries and Turkey have been promised that by the beginning of October, the problems they face within the European Union regarding driver status and work rights will be resolved, confirmed the consortium "Logistika BiH", which organized protests and blockades earlier this week for this reason.

Truck drivers from the Balkans and Turkey, when transporting goods within the EU, are treated by EU regulations like all other third-country nationals. This means they can stay there for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period.

If they exceed this limit, they risk arrest or expulsion with a ban on returning to EU territory, and this applies to drivers who daily drive 3.5 million trucks across Europe, transporting 60 million tons of cargo.

It is precisely this problem, which has existed for years, that was the main reason for transport companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina to draw attention to it and demand a solution. On Monday and Tuesday, they blocked customs terminals in Bosnia and Herzegovina and access roads.

The protest ended on Tuesday evening after they received guarantees from the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina that measures would be taken to facilitate their operations in the country, and the head of the consortium "Logistika", Velibor Peulić, has now confirmed that there are indications that the main problem they highlighted could also be resolved.

For September 10, he announced a meeting to be held in Belgrade, where carriers, together with representatives of the European Commission and the governments of the regional countries and Turkey, will define a new way of implementing the European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR).

"Based on all the signals we have, the AETR agreement rule will be respected. That means drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, under this agreement, could stay 2160 hours in the EU in terms of stay and rest, and that is enough for us because we do not exceed a thousand hours in six months. We expect implementation to start from October, so that it is clear that the driver is an employed worker in a transport company from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and not a tourist or a terrorist," said Peulić, as quoted on Friday by Banja Luka's "Nezavisne novine".

Peulić claims they have received announcements that the implementation of the new rules, once confirmed at the meeting in Belgrade, will begin on October 1.