Symbolic protest drive: Over 500 trucks from across BiH arrive in Sarajevo today

(Patria) - Over 500 heavy goods vehicles from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part today in a symbolic protest drive through Sarajevo, organized by the Logistics Consortium of BiH.

This parade represents a unique appeal from the road transport sector, which, as the organizers state, no longer wishes to be ignored.

Under the slogan "Enough is enough!", a convoy of 543 vehicle units will set off from various parts of the country - from the Una to the Drina, from the banks of the Sava, all the way to Herzegovina.

Among the gathering points are cities such as Srebrenik, Bijeljina, Zvornik, Živinice, Doboj Jug, Bileća, Mostar, Banja Luka, Teslić and Vitez.

For road safety reasons, the number of participants has been deliberately limited, and the arrival of vehicles at the agreed location - the hard shoulder near the Bačići settlement on the A1 motorway (Sarajevo direction) - is planned between 11:00 and 12:00.

The convoy will move along the route: Stup interchange - Meša Selimović Boulevard - Trg Bosne i Hercegovine (Bosnia and Herzegovina Square), where a symbolic turn will be made, after which the vehicles will leave Sarajevo.

As stated by the Consortium, the route itself and the symbolic "turn" at Trg BiH send clear messages - enough of the bureaucracy that hinders the sector's development, and enough of divisions - it is time for unity and truth.

"This is not a protest against the citizens of Sarajevo, but an appeal for a common future. Road transport is the lifeblood of the economy. More than 47,000 people work in the sector, and we do not want them to be forced to leave the country," the organizers stated.

The Consortium especially thanked the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton for its professional cooperation and operational support in organizing a safe and dignified event.

An appeal for understanding was sent to the citizens of Sarajevo, noting that the parade will proceed peacefully, with dignity, without provocations or political messages.

We remind you that carriers and logistics companies announced last week a protest drive through Sarajevo, scheduled for April 21, as a reaction to long-standing problems burdening the road transport sector.

Among the key challenges they highlight are excessive bureaucracy, inconsistent legal regulations, and a continuous rise in operational costs - factors which, they claim, cause serious financial losses and hinder business operations.

If the authorities do not offer concrete solutions, a more radical measure has been announced - the so-called French model of blockade, planned for April 28.

This model implies a complete halt of road traffic across the country, and the organizers clearly state that responsibility for such a situation will lie with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the relevant minister Staša Košarac, as well as the director of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, Zoran Tegeltija.

One of the central problems highlighted by carriers is the so-called 90/180 rule, which limits the number of days of stay in European Union countries.

Although drivers are in transit, the same rule applies to them, further complicating work and the planning of international transport routes.