Macut on the lifting of the transporters’ blockade: A victory for the people who connect Europe

Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut welcomed the decision by professional drivers to lift the blockade of freight traffic, stressing that it represents a victory of reason, dialogue, and the work of people who connect Europe on a daily basis. He noted that drivers have finally been recognized as a distinct category requiring a longer stay in the European Union than the standard 90 days within a 180-day period.

Macut stated that the agreement was reached thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of European Integration, and the relevant ministers Aleksandra Sofronijevic and Nemanja Starovic, as well as the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the traffic and border police administrations, and the Customs Administration.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this marks an important step forward for Serbian drivers and transport operators who have for years borne the burden of the European economy, adding that talks will continue until a final solution is reached, according to a statement from the Government of Serbia.

Macut pointed out that Serbia has persistently and with sound arguments highlighted the unsustainability of the 90/180 rule.

Transport operators from Serbia decided today to lift the blockade at all freight terminals, which they had launched on Monday. The decision followed a day after the European Commission began considering the introduction of special visas for professional truck drivers, which would allow them to stay longer in EU countries and perform their work without hindrance.

Drivers had blocked freight crossings in protest against the stricter enforcement of rules on permitted stays in European Union member states, which significantly hampers their work.

A day earlier, truck drivers in Montenegro and North Macedonia also lifted their blockades.