Instead of talks - Forto sends statements, while carriers' problems remain unresolved

(Patria) - The Presidency of the Logistics BiH Consortium analyzed the latest statement by the Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH, Edin Forto.

While carriers are seeking dialogue and concrete solutions, the minister is avoiding meetings, not responding to inquiries, and instead of talks, is only releasing statements to the public, the Consortium stated.

They emphasize that Minister Forto publicly confirmed that carriers "drive problems across the border every day," thereby admitting the reality. They also recalled his never-fulfilled promises - costs per vehicle for "papers" will not exceed 100 KM.

"He promised: 'I am on the side of the carriers' - and today more than 90 percent of carriers believe the opposite. He called drivers 'the healthiest part of the economy,' but the Ministry has simultaneously humiliated them through unfair retraining procedures, contrary to Directive 2003/59.

The recognition of EU Code 95 (e.g., from Slovenia) was promised, but in practice, officials claim that 'the minister was joking.' We are not joking.

Documents and licenses from Republika Srpska are not recognized at the state level, creating insecurity and double costs. Instructions for obtaining Code 95 have never been sent," the Consortium announced.

They also point out that for e-CMR - the result is 0%. While countries in the region are already applying e-CMR, BiH is stagnating. For the CEMT regulation - the process is still ongoing, although it was supposed to be completed at the beginning of the year.

"Borders - promised facilitations have not been achieved, discrimination and arrests of drivers continue. While the minister makes promises, we have already scheduled a meeting with the European Commission for August 26th," the Logistics BiH Consortium stated.

When a problem is not to be solved, they add, a commission is formed. And now a "permanent committee" is being proposed. For twenty years, commissions have only made wrong decisions and incurred additional costs.

Commissions have created an environment where in BiH, out of all "digitalizations," only an ADR certificate can be obtained via SMS.

"The commissions of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH have contributed to the fact that it is easier to do business in all countries of the region today than in one's own country.

You claim that 70 percent has been realized. That is a debatable figure - in reality, it only concerns initiatives, not measures that have entered into force.

This statement is on par with the cliché 'the people know.' We ask - did anyone from the people say otherwise?

We admit that you are an above-average manager in political life, but in an engineering sense, measurability is clear: out of 17 points - nothing has been realized. The result is zero.

Technicians know that there are only two options: 1 or 0. Solved or not solved. On this occasion, we apologize to all carriers from the Sarajevo Canton.

They warned us as early as April 15, 2025, that our result with you would be 0. We criticized them then, but unfortunately, we had to admit they were right. To this day, the realization is 0 percent," the Consortium said.

They emphasize that key demands remain unresolved - 17 agreed points and the result is 0.
Excise tax refund - promised, but without results. Toll discount - promised, but without a solution.

Withdrawal of disputed articles of the Regulation (31–35) - not even mentioned.

"Minister Forto politically acknowledges the sector, but operationally continues on the same path as his predecessors. Instead of results - only new statements.

Minister, you are directly responsible for the announced protest through your inaction and refusal to implement concrete measures," the Logistics BiH Consortium noted.

They then clearly emphasized what they demand from Minister Forto:
‣ Implementation of all agreed points;
‣ Withdrawal of disputed articles of the Regulation (31–35);
‣ Refund of excise taxes and toll discounts;
‣ Urgent application of AETR and SAA without discrimination;
‣ Active participation of the minister in the meeting with the European Commission on August 26th.

"Enough is enough. The protest 'until demands are met' begins on September 1st at 6:00 AM and will last until real solutions are implemented.

With this statement, we clearly show that while the minister writes statements - the carriers are writing the history of their struggle. The most organized, united, cohesive, and determined," the Logistics BiH Consortium stated.