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5d ago

EU Visa Plan Prompts Partial Easing of Balkans Truck Blockades

An EU visa plan for highly mobile workers seeks to ease Schengen stay limits for long-haul drivers.

A drone view of truck drivers and transport union representatives protesting in front of the Port of Bar, as part of wider Western Balkans blockades against the EU's new entry–exit rules, with growing concerns over fuel shortages after Montenegro's energy ministry warned supplies were limited to what was available at petrol stations, in Bar, Montenegro, January 29, 2026. REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic

Overview

  • Truckers in Montenegro and North Macedonia ended border blockades after the EU announced a more flexible visa strategy for professions that travel frequently.
  • Drivers in Bosnia and Serbia kept cargo terminals blocked, continuing to disrupt the corridor linking the EU with Turkey and the Middle East.
  • Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce estimated 93% of exports from the four affected countries were halted, causing about €92 million in daily losses and penalties for EU-based firms.
  • Montenegrin truckers lifted their blockade of the port of Bar, easing fears of near-term fuel shortages in a country reliant on that hub for imports.
  • Protesters seek special visas or extended stays under Schengen rules after reports of deportations, including more than 100 Bosnian drivers last year for exceeding the 90‑day limit.