Latest News

Bosnian truckers end blockade after government agrees to most of their demands

After the government agreed late Tuesday to most of the truckers' requests, the Bosnian truckers lifted their blockade of the movement of goods throughout the Balkans on Wednesday.

About 600 trucks are parked in front of cargo terminals near borders with Croatia and Serbia, as well as the capital Sarajevo. This has caused a slowdown in passenger traffic, and threatens the profits of exporters of perishable products and those who produce them.

After months of unsuccessful negotiations, representatives of Logistika, which represents 47,000 transport workers, said that the protest was organized after no progress had been made in Bosnia's multiple layers of government.

One of the main problems was the 90-day limit set by the European Union for the number of days Bosnian truckers could stay within the EU without having to leave, out of the 180 allowed annually.

Truck drivers want to reduce red tape, long queues and reclaim excise tax on fuel. They also want shorter border procedures and greater digitalisation.

Velibor Peulic is the chief coordinator of Logistika. He said that certain requests submitted to the government have been fulfilled and others are in the process.

He said that the transport community, which includes drivers from Turkey and Bosnia, will discuss the issues on September 10th in Belgrade with officials of the European Commission. He expects them to approve a longer period for truckers from the area in the EU.

(source: Reuters)