Western Balkans truck drivers threaten EU border blockade
Al Jazeera
β’Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:15:11 +0000
π° What Happened
Hundreds of truckers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia protested on Monday against EU rules that limit drivers from outside the Schengen area to 90 days inside the border-free zone within any 180-day period. They threatened to block border crossings with the EU on September 14 unless Brussels grants an exemption. The dispute has intensified since the EU's Entry/Exit System went live in April, which electronically tracks non-EU nationals' entries and exits.
π The Backstory
The Schengen 90/180-day rule hits Western Balkan drivers hard because they cross into the EU constantly for work; the new EES system makes their time inside the zone much easier to monitor. The European Commission says it is in contact with partners and is considering bilateral deals, such as North Macedonia's agreements with Croatia, Switzerland and Romania.
π― Why It Matters
A border blockade on September 14 would disrupt trade between the EU and its Western Balkan neighbours - a key export market for the region - just as Brussels courts those countries as future members. It is also an early stress test of how the EES affects workers who depend on crossing EU borders for their livelihood.
Hundreds of truckers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia protested on Monday against EU rules that limit drivers from outside the Schengen area to 90 days inside the border-free zone within any 180-day period. They threatened to block border crossings with the EU on September 14 unless Brussels grants an exemption. The dispute has intensified since the EU's Entry/Exit System went live in April, which electronically tracks non-EU nationals' entries and exits.
The Schengen 90/180-day rule hits Western Balkan drivers hard because they cross into the EU constantly for work; the new EES system makes their time inside the zone much easier to monitor. The European Commission says it is in contact with partners and is considering bilateral deals, such as North Macedonia's agreements with Croatia, Switzerland and Romania.
A border blockade on September 14 would disrupt trade between the EU and its Western Balkan neighbours - a key export market for the region - just as Brussels courts those countries as future members. It is also an early stress test of how the EES affects workers who depend on crossing EU borders for their livelihood.