Although hauliers in several Balkan countries have announced border blockades, the situation remains fluid. In some countries, protests are still planned; in others, they have been suspended while the industry waits to see whether Brussels will offer a solution. For the transport sector, that means one thing: a growing risk of disruption to international haulage.
EES tightens checks on drivers’ time in Schengen
The EES is a new European border management system that records non-EU nationals travelling for short stays in the EU each time they cross the external borders of 29 participating European countries. It was introduced in stages from 12 October 2025 at the external borders of participating states and is due to become fully operational on 10 April 2026. From that point, the 90-days-in-any-180-day-period rule in the Schengen Area will be fully enforced.
For truck drivers from the Western Balkans who regularly operate in the European Union, this creates serious operational constraints. The new system also includes the collection of biometric data at borders, adding another layer of complexity to the border-crossing process.
The issue has already been raised in the European Parliament, where concerns have been voiced about the effect of the new rules on freight transport. At the same time, discussions are under way on possible solutions, including long-term visas or special permits for professional drivers.
Protests and border blockades across the region
The strongest action has been announced in Montenegro. The national hauliers’ association has confirmed a 72-hour blockade of border crossings from 14 to 17 April, covering the borders with Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. The action would apply only to freight traffic and would not affect passenger cars or coach services.
Hauliers in Serbia also announced similar action. In the end, however, they decided to refrain from blockades for now, in the hope that a solution can be worked out with the European Commission.
Industry representatives say the central issue is how the 90/180-day rule will be applied. There have been suggestions that drivers’ previous time spent in the Schengen Area could be reset, which would make it easier for transport companies to continue operating.
UK hauliers are in the firing line too
This is not only a Balkan problem. UK hauliers are also exposed from 10 April, when EES becomes fully operational across the Schengen area and non-EU nationals’ entries and exits start being tracked digitally rather than by passport stamps. British drivers on short-term stays will be recorded using passport data and biometric checks, bringing the 90/180-day rule into sharper enforcement.
For UK operators, the first visible change is at the border. On a driver’s first Schengen entry, EES requires a digital record, a facial image and fingerprints. At Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras, those checks are done before departure from the UK. GOV.UK says the process may take a few extra minutes and queues could be longer at busy periods.
The more serious issue is what comes after that. The UK government has confirmed that British haulage drivers can still work in the EU without a visa, but only if they remain within the 90-days-in-180 limit. With EES, that clock becomes much harder to ignore. For firms relying on repeated continental work, driver rostering, trip planning and time spent inside Schengen all become more sensitive.
The Road Haulage Association has already warned that stricter enforcement will hit hauliers and has stepped up calls for a professional drivers’ exemption. Until any such solution appears, UK operators should expect EES to mean more border friction and tighter limits on how long British drivers can keep working inside Schengen.
Industry divided as uncertainty persists
The situation across the region remains unclear. Some industry organisations have suspended protests, while others are still preparing action, and positions may yet change.
Representatives of the Serbian transport sector stress that drivers play a vital role in the economy and that access to the EU market is strategically important for the industry.
At the same time, experts warn that the lack of a clear solution could lead to further tensions and disruption across supply chains.
Pressure grows on Brussels
Questions have been raised in the European Parliament about the impact of EES on freight transport and wider supply chains. The main uncertainty is whether the European Union will introduce any special facilitation measures for professional drivers from outside the bloc.
Some member states, however, are opposed to exemptions, citing security concerns and the need to protect the integrity of the Schengen Area.
Additional UK reporting by Zsófia Pölös
