Truckers Face 35-Hour Waits at Croatia Border Amid Customs System Upgrades

Truck drivers face prolonged and severe delays at border crossings into Croatia, with some reporting waits of up to 35 hours for relatively short distances. The situation has created a significant bottleneck for freight transport, causing considerable frustration among drivers.

According to Croatia's Ministry of Interior, the extensive waiting times are not a result of border police operations or the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES). Instead, the ministry attributes the delays primarily to ongoing upgrades within the customs system, which are consequently hindering customs and freight forwarding procedures.

Reporters on the ground near the Šid border crossing describe the queue as even longer than the previous day. One driver, Aleksandar Jovanović, stated he had not moved for 35 hours, only advancing 500 meters. The last truck in the line was reportedly still a 45-minute drive from the crossing. While movement is occurring, it is described as extremely slow and difficult.

Drivers report that similar, arduous conditions prevail at other border crossings, such as Batrovci. The extended delays are causing significant disruption to supply chains and raising concerns about the efficiency of cross-border trade procedures.

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has not moved for 35 hours, and after that only approached the crossing by 500 meters