Road transport operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been protesting for a second day throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radio Free Europe reports.
On September 1, several thousand truck drivers blocked customs terminals and major roads at the entrances to the largest cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They are demanding the abolition of, as they say, discrimination against their drivers in the European Union, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a reduction in costs, such as fuel tax and tolls, and more flexible, practical, and cheaper rules for training and hiring new drivers.
On Monday, a press conference was held where Velibor Peulić, a representative of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which gathers representatives of truck drivers, stated that, among other problems, drivers from BiH are being arrested, deported, and banned from entering the EU for exceeding the 90-day stay, although the time is measured “to the exact second” by digital tachographs in the trucks.
“Today, if a driver from Mostar (a city in BiH about 40 kilometers from the border with Croatia and the EU) goes to Ploče (a transport port in Croatia, 70 kilometers away) three times a day, it counts as if he stayed in the EU for three days,” said Peulić.
The Minister of Transport and Communications of BiH, Edin Forto, held a press conference after the address of the road transport operators’ representatives, stating that most of the road transport operators’ demands have been met, and that the most important one can only be solved by changing European laws.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost completely dependent on international road transport for trade in goods with EU countries. The Council of Ministers of BiH has previously negotiated with EU representatives on this issue, but Brussels refused to exempt drivers from the rules that regulate the rules of stay in the EU.
Road transport operators also expressed their dissatisfaction in April, when more than 500 trucks passed through Sarajevo in a protest procession.
At the session of the Presidency of the Plenum of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held last night, a unanimous decision was made to continue the PROTEST UNTIL THE DEMANDS ARE MET, Vijesti.ba reports.
It was stated that the protests continue with an increase in the scope of suspending supply chains. They spent the night on the streets throughout BiH.
A supplement to the Platform for negotiations was also adopted, as an official document and a unique negotiating position of the sector.
This decision confirms that the Platform for negotiations is fully legitimized by the will of the Plenum and that it represents an official mandate for talks with institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international partners.
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