Trucking companies from North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro staged coordinated blockades at freight border crossings to the European Union’s Schengen zone on Monday, protesting a new EU entry-exit system (EES) for professional drivers.
The companies said the system, which tracks the duration of stays in the EU, threatens deportations, disrupts operations, and could cause significant economic losses. They are calling on EU authorities to exempt transport firms from the rules.
Sasho Ilievski, owner of Skopje-based Stema Transport, said he and his drivers joined the protests despite his company being only marginally affected, as most of its routes are in nearby EU member states.
“Our routes are mainly to Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. We stay four to five days at most per trip, so we haven’t exceeded the limits,” Ilievski said. “But other companies that travel deeper into the EU, to Sweden, Norway, or Portugal, often spend 15-20 days inside the zone per trip. Under the new rules, drivers cannot complete their professional duties. They are not tourists; they are professional drivers who need longer stays.”
The EES, which began phased implementation on October 12, 2025, and is scheduled for full enforcement by April 10, 2026, restricts non-EU drivers to 90 days in any 180 days within the Schengen area. While previously authorities often overlooked minor overages, the new electronic system tracks biometric data to monitor every day, including breaks and border waits.
Truckers in North Macedonia blocked ten crossings, including Deve Bair, Delchevo, and Novo Selo on the Bulgarian border, Dojran, Bogorodica, and Medzitlija on the Greek border, Qafasan, Stenje, and Blato on the Albanian border, and Blace at the Kosovo border. Passenger vehicles and buses were unaffected. Serbian drivers blocked Tabanovce on their side of the border.
Biljana Muratovska, general secretary of the transport association Makam-Trans, said around 70% of North Macedonian firms face operational disruptions and potential deportations under the new rules. Similar protests were reported in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“In Bosnia, 100 professional drivers were forced to return from the EU, and 47 lost their jobs because of stay restrictions,” Muratovska said. She called for professional drivers to be treated like crews in other transport sectors, noting that road transport accounts for 96% of North Macedonia’s import-export traffic.
EU officials stressed that the EES does not introduce new rules but enforces existing ones more systematically. Markus Lamert, spokesperson for the European Commission on internal affairs, said authorities are aware that highly mobile professionals, including truck drivers, may need to stay beyond 90 days in 180 days.
Industry representatives warned of serious economic consequences. Viktor Mizo, CEO of Kostal Macedonia and head of the Foreign Investors Council, said the new regulations could disrupt production for major European clients, potentially costing millions in emergency air shipments. “Rules requiring driver rotation every 90 days affect automotive, steel, metal, and medical supplies production,” he said.
North Macedonia’s government has voiced support for the protesters. Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikolovski said he backs efforts to resolve the issue, either by postponing EES implementation for professional drivers or by providing work visas.