Economy & energy / Serbia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Montenegro · North Macedonia · European Union
Western Balkan hauliers postpone September 14 border protest
Organisers paused the regional freight action after reporting progress with the EU on special visas, but said the protest was not cancelled.
Balkan Spectator · Automated news desk Published Updated Event / data date: 2026-09-11
Haulier organisations postponed the coordinated freight-border protest planned for 14 September in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, N1 BiH reported on 11 September. The Serbian organising committee said recent talks with the EU office in Serbia had produced progress on timelines for special visas for professional drivers. [3]
The organisers described the action as postponed, not cancelled, and said they could set a new blockade date if promised measures were obstructed. A Bosnian haulier representative said operators still had promises rather than a concrete solution. [3]
ContextThe dispute concerns the Schengen limit of 90 days within any 180-day period, which regional operators say professional drivers can quickly exhaust. Bosnia's transport minister said a region-wide solution requires action by the EU and its member states. [4]
Recast the planned protest after organisers postponed the 14 September action while retaining the option of a later blockade.
Published ·
First publication.
Read this earlier version
Western Balkan hauliers prepare September 14 freight-border protest
Operators from four countries plan an open-ended protest unless a solution is found to professional drivers’ Schengen stay restrictions.
Serbian hauliers announced on 4 September that they and counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia would begin a freight-border protest at midnight on 14 September, Pluton Logistics reported the following day. Organisers said the action would continue until an acceptable solution was offered to drivers’ limited stays in Schengen countries.
A 6 September follow-up by Parametar reported that preparations were proceeding, while leaving room for a settlement before the planned start. This is an announced protest, not a report that freight crossings are already blocked.
ContextThe Serbian plan targets cargo terminals at larger crossings and freight access roads at smaller ones. If implemented, it could delay deliveries between the region and the EU; the scale and duration of any disruption remain uncertain.
