Hundreds of professional truck drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been blocked at European Union borders in recent days, with authorities citing stricter Schengen area residency rules, officials and industry representatives said.
According to sector data, at least 875 drivers were turned back at the Croatian border, leading to canceled shipments and growing concern over economic fallout. Transport companies warned the situation is unsustainable and have threatened border protests on March 23 if the issue is not resolved.
A working group convened in Sarajevo on Tuesday to coordinate responses, calling for an urgent meeting with the Croatian government and Brussels to address the restrictions. “The international road transport sector is facing one of the most serious crises in the country,” said representatives from the Logistika consortium, which organized the meeting.
Bosnian officials said the border disruptions could have widespread effects on the domestic economy, as international trucking plays a critical role in the supply chain. Edin Forto, Bosnia’s Minister of Communications and Transport, led the discussions, which included representatives from the Council of Ministers and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Logistika consortium emphasized that further protests are planned if institutions fail to act promptly. “We cannot allow our drivers to be repeatedly blocked,” the group said in a statement.
Croatia, an EU member and Schengen zone country, has yet to provide clarity on the return of drivers, leaving Bosnia to urgently seek diplomatic and administrative solutions to prevent a deepening transport crisis.