In Bosnia, Truck Drivers Block The Movement Of Goods Across The Country

In protest.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, truck drivers on Monday blocked the movement of all goods in the country due to what they said was the government's failure to support the transportation sector.

This, according to European Truth, Reuters reports.

About 600 trucks were parked near cargo customs terminals in several cities, including the capital Sarajevo, and near the borders with Croatia and Serbia.

Passenger traffic was not blocked but slowed, the Bosnian car club BIHAMK said.

Logistika, an organization representing 47,000 transport workers, organized the protests under the slogan "Enough" after months of negotiations with Bosnia's numerous authorities failed to yield any results.

"Our supply chains have been stopped across the country," Velimir Peulic, Logistika's chief coordinator, told a news conference.

Logistika, which unites 600 companies, is demanding that the central government remove administrative barriers and excessive taxes that it says threaten the survival of the 4.7 billion-euro sector.

One of the key issues is the European Union's 90-day limit on the amount of time Bosnian truck drivers can stay in the EU without leaving, out of the 180 days allowed per year.

Peulic said this has forced many companies to re-register in neighboring EU member states Croatia and Slovenia, and many Bosnian drivers to leave their country.

- Stop arresting us in the EU," he said, adding that 48 Bosnian drivers have been detained across the EU for exceeding the 90-day limit, even though they were only doing their jobs.

The truck drivers are also demanding the return of oil excise taxes and a reduction in border procedures, as well as greater digitalization that would cut red tape and long queues.

The Bosnian Ministry of Communications and Transport said it has begun work on removing some administrative barriers and procedures and that it should be completed by next month.

Peulic said talks with the government will continue, as will the protests.

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