Hauliers from the region have ended the border blockades.
The President of the International Transport Business Association, Neđo Mandić, told RTS that, as far as the Brussels strategy is concerned, a good solution has been found for truck drivers – visas will be electronic and issued quickly, and there will be no additional administrative procedures.
After five days of blockades, the Management Board of the Business Association International Transport decided to end the blockade of all cargo terminals in Serbia. As a result, from yesterday afternoon kilometre-long queues of lorries began leaving Serbia.
Neđo Mandić told RTS that hauliers are satisfied with the proposed solution presented within the European Commission’s visa strategy.
As he explained, the introduction of electronic visas is planned, which will be issued quickly without the need to visit embassies, a measure he assessed as one of the acceptable solutions to the problems faced by hauliers.
According to him, there were also certain dilemmas among hauliers at the meeting, particularly regarding the transitional period until the full implementation of the new solutions, which could last up to two years. However, as he emphasised, assurances were given that during this period, drivers from Serbia would not encounter problems when crossing borders, nor would there be additional administrative procedures or recording.
Expectations from the 3 February meeting
Hauliers expect that at the meeting on Tuesday, the agreement will be officially confirmed and that the conduct of control authorities during the transitional period will be specified. As they state, the acceptance of their demands and the swift response of institutions are viewed as a positive step forward in the years-long talks with the European Commission.
Mandić stressed that the goals of the protest had thus been achieved and that there was no reason to continue the blockades, which, as he said, could have caused damage to the economy.
During the blockades, a total of 25 crossings were covered, and the organisation, according to the hauliers, was complex and carried out in several shifts. Mandić particularly highlighted cooperation with the police and customs authorities, which helped ensure that everything proceeded without incidents.
Hauliers also state that during the blockades, vehicles carrying medicines and other goods of importance for the economy were allowed through, in order to avoid major disruptions to production and supply.
(RTS, 31.01.2026)
https://www.rts.rs/lat/vesti/drustvo/5878307/kamiondzije-sengen-zona-blokada-granice-brisel.html