Forto: No good news from Brussels regarding professional drivers

(Patria) - Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto participated today in a ministerial meeting of Western Balkan ministers and the European Commission, dedicated to the problems faced by professional drivers regarding their stay and work in the European Union. 

The meeting discussed the need for the most urgent and concrete resolution of this issue, considering the direct consequences that current rules have on the transport sector, supply chains, and the region's economy. 

“Professional drivers are not a security risk for the EU, but people who conscientiously perform their jobs. That is why we must find pragmatic solutions within the existing European framework we have,” Minister Forto stated. 

“We have already submitted concrete proposals bilaterally to the Republic of Croatia and to the European Commission. I expect the earliest possible consideration because we no longer have time to wait,” Forto added. 

In addition to the relevant transport ministers, the meeting was also attended by ministers of foreign affairs and security, i.e., interior affairs, marking the first time this issue has been addressed within the full competence of all relevant departments. Minister Forto emphasized that this approach is key to achieving long-term solutions, as the issue of professional drivers' stay and work directly concerns migration policy, security procedures, and international relations, and requires coordinated action across multiple departments. 

At the end of the meeting, it was concluded that a working group will be formed to work in the coming period on a proposal for solving the problem of professional drivers, which will be submitted to the European Commission.

“We see that the protests held last week have triggered some alarms at the European Commission, but unfortunately we have not heard any concrete solutions,” Forto added.

Before the ministerial meeting, Minister Forto met with the Director of the Transport Community, Matej Zakonjšek, and ambassadors of Western Balkan member states, with whom he discussed the possibility of clearer and more proportional regulation of the status of professional drivers within the existing revision of the Transport Community Treaty.

We recall that Minister Forto previously proposed to the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport that professional drivers employed by licensed carriers be allowed free movement within EU territory solely for the purpose of performing international road transport.