Croatian border town residents decry EU entry system delays

Croatian authorities insist the European Union's new entry and exit system (EES) is operating without major issues. However, residents in Metković, a border town with Bosnia and Herzegovina, paint a different picture. They describe daily struggles with long queues and complicated procedures at the border crossing.

The EES, implemented this year, digitally monitors third-country nationals entering the Schengen area. Interior Minister Davor Božinović has repeatedly stated Croatia's readiness and the system's smooth operation. Yet, the reality on the ground in Metković, a town whose urban area has expanded towards the border over decades, highlights a disconnect between official assurances and lived experience.

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Come and see what is happening in Metković

Metković's proximity to Bosnian settlements like Doljani and Gabela Polje creates a unique cross-border dynamic. Many residents share family ties, pay for municipal services in Metković, or own agricultural land in Bosnia. The street Marko Marulića even straddles the border, with one side in Croatia and the other in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For these communities, the border is not just a line on a map but an integral part of daily life, affecting commutes for work, school runs, medical appointments, and shopping.

The new EES rules have exacerbated existing delays. Processing a single vehicle carrying a family can now take five to ten minutes, especially with children. This has led to growing dissatisfaction, with some Bosnian citizens reportedly abandoning trips to Croatia altogether. The distinction between EU and non-EU citizen procedures further irritates locals, who find themselves stuck in traffic jams daily.

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The processing of one car with a whole family often takes 5-10 minutes, especially when there are small children in the vehicle.