Regional Transport Protests Announced at EU Borders Over Schengen Rules

Road transport associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia will begin coordinated protests at border crossings into the European Union on September 14.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Logistics Consortium said the action follows the failure to establish concrete and lasting solutions for professional drivers from the Western Balkans who face limits on their stays in the Schengen area. Transport companies say drivers continue to face detention, deportation and entry bans, disrupting operations and regional supply chains.

The protests will take place simultaneously at border crossings and freight terminals along major routes into the EU. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, coordinators will work with border, customs and police services at each crossing toward EU territory.

Organizers said the demonstrations would remain peaceful, lawful and coordinated with the authorities. Emergency medical and humanitarian transport, live animals and other urgent shipments will receive priority clearance. The transport operators stressed that the action is aimed at protecting professional drivers, domestic companies and supply-chain stability, not at targeting the public or the wider economy.

Industry representatives are urging the European Commission, EU member states and Western Balkan governments to start an institutional process for a special operating regime for international road transport drivers. They remain open to discussions before the protests begin and have notified relevant ministries, councils, police directorates, entity governments and the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.