Today, hauliers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia have launched a protest action of at least seven days at all border crossing points of the to protest the lack of progress in the discussion with the European Commission for a solution on the period of limited stay for professional hauliers within the Schengen area. The initiative was launched also in light of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for electronic recording of the inputs and outputs of the third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen area for short-term stays, i.e. a period of maximum 90 days out of 180 days, that the last October 12 to be fully operational by next April 10th.

The protest action is led by the association of Serbian hauliers Medjunarodni Transport (MT) which has expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the fact that, after almost almost two years of continuous appeals to the European Commission to a solution is found, in today's briefing the spokesman of the European Commission, Markus Lammert, simply admitted that Brussels is aware of the problem and that they are ongoing Reflections also in view of the next visa strategy expected within this week.

Announcing the blockade of transport, with the exception of the imports of medicines, the transport of live animals but also of ammunition and explosives, MT denounced that all countries Schengen still retain the right to reclassify the activity professional daily driving on European roads such as "residence within the Schengen territory" and, of consequently, any stay longer than 90 days in a period of 180 days is considered unlawful conduct. "This - underlined the association - involves further sanctions that put both hauliers and transport companies in one state of constant uncertainty about their survival".

"Professional drivers," MT also pointed out, They are not illegal migrants, terrorists or irregular workers. The their arrest, deportation and work restrictions have a direct impact on the Serbian transport sector, as well as on the Serbian economy, which depends on the Serbian transport companies. Furthermore, these actions violate the principles fundamental principles of the right to work and to a normal life. If we do not will be changes in the treatment of professional drivers, and of Serbian transport companies, a complete collapse is expected supply chains by mid-April, given that that our carriers will no longer have drivers available".

MT specified that the protest action could be suspended once guarantees have been received regarding a date for a meeting with European Commission officials who should include representatives of both the State and the hauliers.