Serbian transporters have expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the ministerial meeting between Western Balkan countries and the European Commission, despite welcoming the first steps taken by the EU to address the limited stay of their drivers in the Schengen zone, representatives of Serbia\u2019s transport industry told PlutonLogistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ministers from the Western Balkans met on Tuesday, February 3, with representatives of the European Commission. The scheduling of this meeting, as well as the release of the EU Visa Strategy, were the reasons transporters halted protests and ended border blockades on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are not satisfied because we expected a quick, short-term solution to this problem. It is now extremely important that arrests of our drivers in the Schengen area stop until the promised visa solution is implemented,”<\/em> said Borislav Popovi\u0107, owner of Popovi\u0107 Transport and a representative of the International Transport Business Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We are at our limit and beginning to drown. Arrests have even increased after our protests. For example, one of my drivers was stopped just yesterday at the Austrian border and his days were counted. By chance, he didn\u2019t work full time in January, but if he had, he would have exceeded the limit and been deported. Alongside him were two Bosnian trucks and one Macedonian. They are only targeting us,”<\/em> he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Popovi\u0107 emphasized that transporters welcome the EU\u2019s decision to prioritize this issue, but the urgent problem must be resolved quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The administration in Brussels is clearly slower than we expect, and they see progress in this situation. On February 3, the Commission asked countries to present their perspective on the problem. The only concrete result was a new announcement for a meeting of the newly formed Working Group next week. This group will include state representatives, one transporter representative, embassy officials in Brussels, and the Transport Community,”<\/em> Popovi\u0107 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We cannot say they are doing nothing, but for us, not a day, but every hour matters. They have their procedures, administration, and timelines, which we will know after the first Working Group meeting. We will try to be patient, but at that meeting, it will be made clear: if arrests and deportations of drivers do not stop immediately, we will be forced to return to the borders. Only next time, we will go all the way. We don\u2019t want that, and we hope for understanding.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Transporters had shown patience for the economy, the region, and the state when ending their protests, but if the situation worsens, they will prioritize their own interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We support the EU\u2019s efforts to control their borders, and we welcome that. But our trucks are not driven by illegal migrants \u2014 only by drivers who comply with all regulations and have all proper documentation for vehicles and goods,”<\/em> Popovi\u0107 stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nREAD MORE: <\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n