World · World News Bureau
Balkan truck drivers threaten EU border blockade over visa restrictions
Commercial drivers from Western Balkans countries are preparing to block European Union border crossings unless authorities grant them exemptions to the Schengen area's 90-day visa limit, which they say effectively prevents them from working.
LSN World News ·
Truck drivers operating across the Western Balkans region have escalated their campaign against European Union mobility restrictions, warning of coordinated border blockades if their demands are not met. The drivers contend that the 90-day limit governing stays within the Schengen travel zone creates an untenable situation for their profession, forcing them to abandon work or face legal consequences.
Under current regulations, citizens from non-EU Western Balkan nations can remain in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. Commercial drivers argue this framework fails to account for the extended time required to complete legitimate cross-border freight operations, effectively creating a barrier to employment rather than a security measure.
The threatened action represents a significant escalation in tensions between the regional transport sector and EU policymakers. Drivers have called for special work permits or visa exemptions that would allow them to conduct business without triggering the restrictive time-limit provisions applied to other visitors.
EU officials have not yet publicly responded to the blockade threat. The dispute underscores broader tensions regarding mobility and labor movement between the European Union and candidate countries in the Western Balkans region seeking closer integration with the bloc.