Lorry drivers from four Western Balkan countries blocked more than 20 European Union border crossings on Monday, protesting strict enforcement of Schengen travel rules that limit non-EU nationals to 90 days within any 180-day period. Officials estimate the blockade is causing daily export losses of around €100 million.

The protest halted freight operations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, affecting key trade routes connecting the EU with Turkey and the Middle East. Montenegro’s Adriatic port of Bar was also disrupted.

Vesko Šljivančanin, director of the Association of International Hauliers of Montenegro, told Euronews that drivers are “fighting for our companies to be competitive within the region, fighting for our employees, for our families, for our very existence.”

Marko Čadež, president of Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce, said the direct damage to exports from blocked crossings amounts to roughly €100 million per day. He added that production companies face additional penalties for undelivered goods, ranging from €10,000 to €50,000 daily. “About 10,000 companies export from Serbia to the EU alone,” Čadež said, warning that total losses could grow rapidly.

The protest responds to tighter enforcement of Schengen rules under the Entry/Exit System (EES), which went into partial effect in October 2025. The electronic system replaces passport stamps with biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, and tracks stays in real time. Drivers say the measures treat professional hauliers the same as attempted migrants, effectively restricting their ability to work.

Mirko Ivanović, representing a Bosnian transport company, said: “We have reached the point where our drivers—and we ourselves—have effectively been deprived of the right to work, because our drivers are being arrested in the European Union.” Last year, over 100 drivers were deported for exceeding the 90-day limit, with another 100 deportations announced last week. Nine drivers were arrested in Germany alone in the past seven days.

At Gevgelija, the busiest crossing between Greece and North Macedonia, around 100 lorries bearing Macedonian flags blocked the cargo terminal. Drivers said they would allow the passage of medicine, live animals, ammunition, and explosives but would otherwise maintain the blockade. Protesters said the action would last at least seven days, with shifts organized to maintain continuous coverage.

Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce proposed solutions including a special visa for professional drivers valid across the Schengen Area, extending allowed stay periods, or exempting drivers from the EES system until a permanent resolution is found. Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut warned that failure to address the issue could “fully paralyse” transportation companies and harm Balkan economies.

European Commission spokesperson Marcus Lamert said the bloc is aware of concerns and closely monitoring the situation. “The EES does not introduce new rules on the length of short-term stays in the Schengen area, but allows better enforcement of the rules,” he said, noting that flexibility exists for certain professions requiring frequent cross-border travel.

The protests highlight tensions between the EU’s regulatory framework and the livelihoods of professional drivers in candidate countries seeking EU membership.