Sokolaj: Albanian drivers will not support the blockade over the EES system; it would be considered an action against the government

Granit Sokolaj from the “Alert” Consumer Center in Tirana told Kosovo Online that the EES system should not apply to transport operators, but that he does not expect drivers from Albania to join the protest of professional drivers from the Western Balkans, as such a move would be viewed as an action against the government.

“When it comes to border security and preventing illegal immigration, I believe that this system should not be applied to passenger or freight transport drivers, because they are not part of the group of people who emigrate. These are mostly people who go to work and stay three days, five days, or ten days in places where they deliver or collect goods, or who transport people if they are bus drivers. However, we see that the EU does not make an exception for this category of people,” Sokolaj said.

He believes this could create delays or obstacles to the free movement of goods, even though the checks themselves do not take long.

“These checks are not actually time-consuming—at most five minutes to apply—and I have experienced this myself when traveling to European Union countries. It is a very simple procedure. However, during peak periods or on certain days, when truck traffic is heavy, queues can form at customs crossings between EU countries and non-EU countries. This can cause delays,” he said.

Speaking about possible reactions in Albania, he noted that he does not expect protests.

“Unlike Serbia or North Macedonia, unfortunately in Albania we do not know how to protest. Business associations are organizations that from time to time protect the interests of the government alongside their own interests, and such a protest would probably be considered an action against the government, so they remain silent,” he stated.

He added that there have been no reactions from business organizations so far.

“To date there has been no reaction, no statement from them. There are some business organizations such as the Union of Albanian Manufacturers, the Albanian Food Industry, chambers of commerce in general… So far, they have had no reaction,” Sokolaj said.

He believes that the European Commission will not adopt a special decision to exempt freight drivers from the system.

“Regardless of the protests that may occur in Serbia, North Macedonia, or other countries, I have the impression that the European Commission will not adopt any special decision to facilitate the movement of drivers, at least in freight transport of any kind,” our interlocutor assessed.

Nevertheless, he stated that such a decision would be justified.

“I think it would be right for such a decision to be adopted. It would be right for there to be additional guidance, an additional decision by the European Commission excluding this category. I emphasize that a driver working in Tirana, Belgrade, Skopje, Pristina, Podgorica, or anywhere else is an employee who is not emigrating, not going to the EU to violate the legal 90-day stay limit in the EU. Their trips last three days, one week, ten days, two weeks—at most one month in special cases, but no longer,” Sokolaj concluded.