Carriers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have announced protests and blockades of cargo border terminals due to the implementation of the new EES system of the European Union, which treats professional drivers from non-EU countries as tourists and limits their stay in Schengen
Because of the new EES system for entering and exiting Of the European Union, but also the inadequate reactions of the European Commission and the Schengen countries regarding the treatment of professional drivers and limiting their stay in the Schengen territory - carriers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina announce blockades of cargo border terminals, reports RTS.
The new system, which should be fully implemented from April 10, foresees the registration of citizens from non-EU countries, who travel for a short stay, every time they cross the external borders of any of the following European countries that use the system.
Due to the new EES system for entry and exit from the European Union, drivers from the region have announced a protest for January 26, when they will block cargo border terminals.
The reason for the drivers' protest is the inadequate reaction of the European Commission and the Schengen countries regarding the treatment of professional drivers and the restriction of their stay in the Schengen territory during their daily work activities.
The president of the Association of Transporters of Serbia Neđo Mandić tells RTS that these protests are organized by transporters, but that drivers should support them.
"If I were a driver, I would have said a long time ago - no one will force me to go on the road, because every driver who goes on the road is in a completely uncertain situation," adds Mandic.
He points out that when the implementation of the new EES system began on October 12, it was said that it was a period during which the rules would be slowly harmonized, data would be entered, and that it would last 180 days, that is, until April 10, when full implementation begins.
"The control of our drivers based on their passports was really stopped. However, today, due to the 'conscientious' individuals who implement the Schengen Agreement, we have a situation where no driver really needs to go on the road anymore, because every driver who leaves, for example, in Rostock from a ship, coming from Norway or Sweden, he is a target at that moment," explains Mandic.
He says that there is no driver from the Western Balkans who does not exceed the limit of 90 days, which is allowed for 180 days of stay in the EU under this system.
"He must be overstepping, because that was his job until now and it wasn't controlled that way, we didn't have any problems. Here, in just three days, five drivers, at least from the companies that notified us, were disconnected in Rostock and the trucks stayed there, and the drivers were deported," Mandic points out.
"There is no driver who works intensively who is absent for more than 90 days. So, when you see a truck, stop him, that man has more than 90 days, deport him, mistreat him, arrest him, because that's what they do," adds Mandic.
He also believes that the protest on January 26 was too late.
"We had to do it before. How slow the Brussels administration is reacting, we will not succeed even in these two months, as long as there is conditionally left time for full implementation to begin, we will not stand it either, because the drivers will no longer go on the road. Why should they go on the road? To risk being arrested, deported, to receive a ban on not being able to work for two or three years," points out Mandić.
The European Commission is closely monitoring the announced protest of the association of carriers in the international transport from the Western Balkans and is in contact with the Western Balkan partners, said the spokesperson of the European Commission, Markus Lammer.
Lammert said that the new system of entry and exit to the European Union (EES) does not introduce new rules when it comes to the length of short-term stays in the Schengen region, but enables better implementation of the rules.
He pointed out that according to the Schengen Agreement, citizens of non-member countries can stay for 90 days within 180 days, and anything longer than that must be covered by a long-term visa or residence permit of one of the member countries.
"The agreement itself already foresees a certain flexibility - which is enabled for cross-border workers, for those who often cross at the same crossing and people with special permits for residents of border areas (Local Border Traffic Permit) and such people do not register in the EES system, but are subject to random control," said Lammert and added that the decision on random controls is up to the member states.
"We're watching closely. The rules are clear, they haven't changed, and there's already some flexibility built into them," said Lammert.
Source: RTS / FoNet
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