ITA Warning: If BiH Signs Agreement with Croatia, There is a Risk of Closing the Gradiška Border Crossing!

(Patria) - If a new agreement on border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is signed on Monday, there is a real possibility that from Tuesday, June 9, 2026, no border crossing will be operational in the north of BiH in the Gradiška area, warn the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of BiH.

"In this way, across the entire north and northwest of BiH, there will be no border crossing for the traffic of goods requiring full inspection supervision (so-called BIP). The ITA has been verbally informed that the Agreement on Border Crossings between Croatia and BiH will be signed on Monday, which, according to announcements, should be signed by the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković. The ITA believes that before the implementation of the new Agreement begins, all necessary organizational and administrative prerequisites for its smooth application must be created. Otherwise, serious problems could arise in the functioning of border traffic in the Gradiška area, with significant consequences for the economy, transporters, and citizens," the statement said.

Specifically, they explain, if the new Agreement enters into force within the announced deadlines, there is a possibility that from Tuesday, June 9, 2026, no border crossing for international traffic of goods and passengers will be operational in the Gradiška area.

"The existing Gradiška border crossing cannot continue operating due to further repairs of the bridge over the Sava River, the damage of which has halted the international traffic of passengers and goods.

At the same time, the new Gradiška Novi most border crossing will not be able to function in accordance with the provisions of the new Agreement, because the valid Rulebook on the internal organization of the ITA has not yet systematized the organizational unit Customs Office Gradiška Novi most.

We remind that the ITA, in order to ensure continuity of operations after the suspension of traffic over the existing old bridge, previously adopted a Decision on the temporary relocation of the Customs Office from the Gradiška Border Crossing to the location of the new bridge in Gradiška. Based on this decision, the Gradiška Customs Office has been temporarily relocated to the new location Gradiška Novi most since May 19, 2026, for a period of three months," state the ITA of BiH.

However, the start of implementation of the new Agreement implies the existence of a new ITA organizational unit at the location of the new border crossing in Gradiška. This is only possible through amendments to the Rulebook on the internal organization of the ITA, which would establish the Customs Office Gradiška Novi most, about which the Authority has informed the public and all relevant institutions multiple times in the previous period. These amendments to the Rulebook must be adopted by the Management Board of the Indirect Taxation Authority.

"Due to all the aforementioned, there is a real possibility that no border crossing will be operational in the Gradiška area on the first day following the signing of the aforementioned international Agreement. We particularly emphasize that such a situation would have direct and serious consequences for the economy, transporters, and citizens, who would not be able to use any border crossing in Gradiška. The ITA has already informed the business community of the possible consequences of such a development through chambers of commerce, so that economic entities are timely informed of potential difficulties in the flow of international traffic of goods.

The ITA expects from all competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina that, until all necessary conditions for the full implementation of the new Agreement on Border Crossings between Croatia and BiH are created, they continue to act in accordance with the valid Agreement on Border Crossings between these two countries. We believe it is necessary to ensure the continuity of border traffic operations until the completion of the repair of the damaged bridge in Gradiška and the adoption of the Amendments to the Rulebook on the internal organization of the ITA, which would establish the Customs Office Gradiška Novi most.

The ITA expresses the expectation that all competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia are aware of the serious consequences that could occur if the new Agreement is signed on Monday, and its implementation begins as early as the first following working day, without prior fulfillment of all organizational and administrative prerequisites for its smooth application.

Such a scenario could lead to enormous difficulties in the flow of international traffic of goods and passengers, with direct consequences for the economy, transporters, and citizens on both sides of the border," the ITA concludes.