Meeting of representatives of the Consortium Logistika BiH and Forte: The first step is to stop arresting BiH drivers in the EU

(Patria) - Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto met today with representatives of BiH carriers Consortium Logistika BiH, and the decision on blocking road traffic will be made after the meeting of the Steering Committee on Friday.

Velibor Peulić, representative of the Consortium, said that from April 17, when the first meeting with Forto was held, until today, they have had some hiccups, but he does not blame Forto for that, but his associates. He assessed today's meeting as open, with a lot of dialogue, proposals, and undertaken obligations.

He noted that the priority is to stop the arrests of BiH drivers in EU countries due to European rule 90/180, i.e., the limited stay of BiH drivers in the EU territory. He emphasized that in Brussels, they do not differentiate between the terms illegal migrant and driver from BiH.

"Something is wrong there. A thematic session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina is needed on this issue. A consensus must be reached on such issues. We have sent a letter to several addresses. Last week, we gave the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Elmedin Konaković the tools for discussion, a final verdict in Austria in favor of BiH. It is a very simple technical solution to this problem, if only they want to apply it in the EU. We have smart tachographs based on which we can prove in every second how much time the driver has spent on EU territory," said Peulić.

He said that if the pressure from the European Union does not stop in the next two months, BiH transport companies will be forced to relocate.

"But before that, we want the state to stand behind us, to say don't arrest our people. You know how hard it is to tell a father and mother, I don't know where your son is. We don't have illusions, but just stop arresting us. That will be the first step," added Peulić.

He also pointed out that the problems of BiH carriers have been accumulating for 20 years, that they need to be resolved, and that they will not back down.

"The transport industry of BiH has fulfilled all the requirements requested by the European Union. We have the most modern fleet. We only expect to implement some details into our regulations, if we buy a new vehicle, not to pay a fee of 1,000 KM. When it comes to the licensing regulation, there is room for improvement," added Peulić.

The licensing regulation was precisely the reason for the sharp open letter that Peulić, on behalf of the Consortium Logistika BiH, sent to Forte.

Forto said that at the first meeting on April 17, they discussed what needed to be done, and today they started working operationally, and that they will "practice solving problems" weekly with the representatives of the carriers.

"We will continue the meetings. Possibly initiate changes to the regulations. The leverage we have given to the carriers is to be a kind of agent in the Council of Ministers and possibly to the public," said Forto.

Regarding the stay limitation in the EU, he noted that the way to find a solution is "slowly crystallizing, it will be an interdisciplinary task, primarily of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH".

He again announced that at the next ministerial conference in Belgrade, which has already been postponed, he will nominate this topic and propose a regional approach.

"I support any kind of protest. Especially if it were related to the stay of drivers in the EU, it would be ideal for it to be a regional approach because it is difficult for us as BiH to succeed alone. Because this is a regional problem," stated Forto, who said he would also support the announcement of a regional protest.

He added that there are 20 years of accumulated problems, that they cannot be solved in a month, but that there is willingness.