The European Union has not rejected the demands of transport companies from the Western Balkans regarding stay limits in the Schengen zone, the head of North Macedonia’s “Makam Trans” transport association said on Monday, countering regional media reports that Brussels had dismissed all proposals.
Biljana Muratovska said the visa strategy of the European Union formally recognizes professional drivers as a specific category and that talks are under way on a transitional solution ahead of the next meeting of the European Commission, where visa liberalization for this group is expected to be discussed.
“This is not a rejection of our demands. Work is ongoing on a permanent solution to overcome the issue of drivers’ staying in the Schengen area. In the meantime, we are seeking a transitional arrangement under which the 90/180 rule would not be applied to professional drivers,” Muratovska said.
Under current rules, nationals of third countries may stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within 180 days, after which a long-term visa or residence permit is required.
Conflicting Accounts
Regional media outlets reported on Tuesday that the European Commission had rejected proposals submitted by Western Balkan governments aimed at easing stay restrictions for truck drivers and other heavy cargo operators.
According to remarks attributed to a participant at the latest meeting and carried by Montenegrin media, Commission representatives said the proposals were “not in line with Schengen rules” and that drivers must comply with the 90/180 regime.
Transport associations had proposed special visas or documents allowing longer stays without changing drivers’ residence status, as well as excluding transit time from the total period counted toward their stay.
Muratovska said there is currently no decision on new blockades, as transporters await further discussions in the European Parliament in the coming weeks. “Protests will not solve the problem. A systemic solution is needed,” she added.
Fines and Deportations
Last week, two drivers — one from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one from North Macedonia — were penalized at the German port of Rostock for exceeding the permitted stay. The Bosnian driver was deported and banned from entering the EU for one year, while the Macedonian driver was fined 150 euros and left Germany voluntarily after overstaying by three days.
Transport companies warn that continued strict enforcement of the 90/180 rule could force some firms to shut down.
North Macedonia’s Transport Ministry said dialogue with the European Commission remains active and that options are being reviewed within a technical working group involving relevant institutions and Commission representatives.
Business chambers have urged a swift systemic solution, saying transport is the “lifeblood” of the economy and that disruptions directly affect the competitiveness of local companies in the European market.
In a strategic analysis, the European Commission acknowledged that the 90-days-in-180 framework creates challenges for sectors dependent on constant cross-border mobility, including freight transport — an issue of particular importance to Western Balkan economies.
For now, attention is focused on upcoming talks in Brussels, where transporters hope for a concrete model to ease mobility for professional drivers within the Schengen area.