Macedonian transporters return to protest, seek solution to driver restrictions

Transporters from Macedonia have announced that they will protest in front of the European Union Delegation in Skopje on August 31. They are demanding a solution to the problem concerning restrictions on the stay of professional drivers from non-EU countries in the Schengen Area, under the rule allowing a stay of 90 days within a 180-day period.

The action will take place from 12:00 to 14:00 and has been organized in cooperation with transporters from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The “Makam Trans” organization warns that, in the absence of an interim solution, the protests may move to border crossing points starting on September 14.

Biljana Muratovska of “Makam Trans” said that the European Union has the ability to resolve the issue, citing the case of Turkish drivers, who are granted professional visas. According to her, the same solution should also be applied to drivers from other countries.

Through bilateral agreements, North Macedonia’s institutions are trying to find a solution to the problem. Agreements have already been reached with Croatia, Switzerland, and Romania, while negotiations are also expected to continue with Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Slovenia.