Road transporters from Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina started blocking cargo terminals border crossings by country Schengen, due to problems with the new system of entry and exit from the European Union and the rule according to which a stay of 90 days in the Schengen area within 180 days is valid for professional drivers.
Support for carriers from Of Serbia, Montenegro and BiH were also announced by Turkish drivers, who are standing in line with drivers from the Western Balkans in the countries where they happen to be.
The protest started at the exit terminals of the countries Western Balkans, and will start at midnight at the entry terminals and will last until the conditions are met, announced the associations of transport companies.
The carriers proposed to schedule a meeting where experts and officials from the European Commission would participate, in order to set a common goal and find a solution, because the full implementation of the new system begins on April 10.
They propose that until a solution is found, professional drivers should be treated as cross-border workers.
The reason for the blockade is the new system of control of entry and exit from the European Union. According to that system, every 180 days, drivers from non-EU countries can spend a maximum of 90 days on the Schengen territory. Carriers say that in practice this means they don't have enough time to complete their tours. The outcome of that, they say, will be the collapse of domestic transport companies and the emigration of drivers to EU countries.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia has confirmed that the blockade has begun at 15 border crossings.
"The blockade began at 12 o'clock at the exit from the country at the cargo terminals, and after that they will also block the border crossings at the entrance to the Republic of Serbia at midnight. The blockade from 12 o'clock is at the following border crossings: Batrovci, Šid, Bogojevo, Bačka Palanka, Nestin, Bezdan, Horgoš, Kelebija, Vrška Čuka, Gradina, Strezimirovci, Srpska Crnja, Vatin, Kaluđerovo and Too bad," the police said.
Source: FoNet
