Thousands of truck drivers in Bosnia have halted deliveries across the country on Monday, September 1st, threatening to block goods until their demands for more flexible travel conditions and greater support within the European Union are met.
About 6.000 truck drivers have almost completely stopped transporting goods, causing traffic jams. The drivers are demanding better working conditions in the country's main export market, the EU.
According to official figures, last year the EU accounted for about 64 percent of Bosnia's foreign trade.
Over 90 percent of goods are transported via road transport.
"We have stopped our supply chains through Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Velibor Peulić from the main truck drivers' association in Bosnia, Konzorcijum logistika BiH.
This association has prevented around 4 tons of goods from reaching the capital, Sarajevo, said Peulić.
For months, representatives of this sector, which has between 15 and 18 drivers, have been asking authorities to negotiate with the EU to change a rule they call "discriminatory" against them.
Their stay in the European bloc, which Bosnia aims to join, is limited to 90 days within a 180-day period - a limit that also applies to tourists.
This rule dates back to 2008, when Bosnia signed a trade agreement with the EU.
Drivers are asking for an exception to the 90-day rule or for their visits to be measured in hours, instead of days.
"Once supply chains stop, this will be visible in every city... We hope that ministries will start doing their work starting today," Peulic declared.
Around 10 border crossings have been blocked by truck deployments, and most of the trucks have been deployed at the border with Croatia, according to the BIHAMK automobile club.
Although the truck drivers' intention was not to block road traffic, their action has caused major delays at the entrances to several cities, including the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, BIHAMK said. /REL
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