Carriers’ protest scheduled for September 14 postponed following progress in talks with EU

The carriers’ protest scheduled for September 14 at Serbia’s border and administrative crossings has been postponed until further notice, the protest organizing committee of the Serbian Business Association of International Road Hauliers “International Transport” (MT) announced today.

According to the statement, the decision was made following the latest talks with the EU Office in Serbia, during which progress was made toward resolving the issues that prompted the protest.

“Unlike in the previous period, this time the EU has demonstrated a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue and has taken concrete steps toward meeting the Association’s demands,” the Association said in a statement.

It specified that progress had been made in defining deadlines for the issuance of special visas for professional drivers from the Western Balkans and that the diplomatic efforts of Serbian state institutions had produced results with a number of EU member states.

The Association said that its primary objective was to resolve the problem rather than stage a protest and that it therefore considered it responsible, at this point, to give institutional negotiations and the implementation of commitments undertaken a chance.

“Gathering at the borders is a measure of last resort, and since things have finally begun to move forward, we want to demonstrate our goodwill toward reaching a constructive solution,” the statement said.

The Association particularly emphasized that the protest had not been canceled, but merely postponed.

“The Association will closely monitor whether the other side fulfills all the agreed steps within the promised deadlines. If we observe any obstruction or departure from what has been agreed, we will immediately set a new date and call on carriers to join a collective protest,” the statement said.

International Transport thanked all colleagues, media outlets and businesses for their support, noting that it had been crucial in generating the pressure needed to open dialogue with the relevant authorities.

“You will be informed in a timely manner of all further steps and the outcome of the negotiations,” the statement concluded.

Serbian carriers had previously confirmed that they would begin a protest and suspend road freight transport at 21 border crossings at midnight on September 14 over restrictions on the length of stay permitted for professional drivers in Schengen countries.

On August 31, carriers staged a two-hour protest outside the headquarters of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia in Belgrade, demanding an urgent solution to the restrictions on the length of stay of professional drivers from Western Balkan countries in the Schengen Area. Protests were held simultaneously outside the headquarters of EU delegations in North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Carriers held their first protest in January, when they demanded an exemption from the Schengen rule known as the 90/180 rule, under which nationals of non-EU countries may spend no more than 90 days within any 180-day period, or six months, in the Schengen Area.