Protesting Truck Drivers Causing Roadblocks in Bosnia Due to EU Regulations

In a significant development, thousands of Bosnian truck drivers halted work across the country on September 1, 20XX, initiating a protest aimed at demanding more flexible travel conditions and greater support within the European Union (EU).

The EU, being Bosnia's largest export market, represents a crucial part of the nation's economy. The truck drivers' action has stalled the majority of Bosnia's transport flow, causing major delays at city entrances, including Sarajevo.

The sector representing the truck drivers has between 15,000 and 18,000 members, and the union had already prevented around 4,000 tonnes of goods from arriving in Sarajevo. The truck drivers' action involved a halt in supply chains throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The truck drivers' association, Konzorcijum logistika BiH, is demanding an exemption from the 90-day limit or for their stays to be counted in hours rather than days. This demand arises from a regulation limiting a trucker's stay within the EU to 90 days within a 180-day period, a rule that was established in 2008.

Velibor Peulić, a representative of the country's main truckers' association, made a statement, expressing the drivers' concerns about the allegedly discriminatory rule. The truck drivers argue that this rule puts them at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts in other EU countries.

Bosnia signed a trade and aid agreement with the EU in 2008, marking the country's first formal step toward full membership of the political and economic bloc. The truck drivers are asking the authorities to negotiate with the EU to change this rule.

The Consortium Logistika BiH should negotiate with the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Indirect Taxation Authority, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to discuss the truck drivers' demands for more flexible travel conditions and support within the European Union.

Approximately 64% of Bosnia's external trade was with the EU in 2024, underscoring the importance of finding a resolution to this issue. The truck drivers' protest has raised concerns about the potential impact on Bosnia's economy and its relations with the EU.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to the truck drivers' demands and whether a compromise can be reached that benefits both the truck drivers and Bosnia's economy.