WB6 CIF Managing Board Sends Appeal to the European Commission on the Position of Professional Drivers
A meeting of the Managing Board of the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) was held at the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on issues of crucial importance for the competitiveness of the Western Balkan economies and their stronger integration into the European market.
During the meeting, the results of activities implemented throughout 2025 were presented, along with ongoing projects and the planned activities for 2026. The Managing Board assessed that the WB6 CIF today represents the most relevant regional platform for advocating the interests of the business community, as well as an operational service for companies, transforming challenges from the field into concrete initiatives addressed to decision-makers.
In this context, the Managing Board adopted a decision to submit a joint appeal to the European Commission regarding the position of professional drivers in international road transport, with particular emphasis on the application of the 90/180-day rule and border procedures. Through this appeal, the WB6 CIF clearly warns about the consequences of policies that directly affect companies, increase business costs, and threaten the stability of trade flows between the European Union and the Western Balkans.
Members of the Managing Board also discussed current challenges in the field of trade, including import quotas on steel and the applicable regulation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which have a direct impact on the operations of numerous companies across the region. The Managing Board of the WB6 CIF expressed full and unanimous support for the initiative calling for the exemption of Western Balkan economies, sending a clear message that the regional business community must act in a unified manner when facing measures that distort equal market conditions.
The Managing Board recalled that the European Union represents the most important export market for the Western Balkans, with more than three quarters of the region’s total exports destined for the EU. For this reason, the stability of supply chains, regulatory predictability, and the unhindered flow of goods are not merely technical issues, but strategic interests for both the region and the European Union.
It was particularly emphasized that the WB6 CIF brings together and represents the interests of more than 370,000 companies from all economies of the region, which are actively involved in regional and European value chains on a daily basis. This capacity makes the WB6 CIF a unique interlocutor for EU institutions and national governments, as well as a key ally for companies that expect timely responses, clear communication, and concrete solutions.
The Managing Board underlined that the role of the WB6 CIF is to serve as a bridge between companies and institutions, to identify risks in a timely manner, articulate common positions, and offer sustainable solutions based on the real needs of the business community rather than purely administrative frameworks.
The Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum will continue to position itself as a reliable, visible, and proactive partner for companies in the region, as well as an indispensable interlocutor for European Union institutions, with the clear objective of systematically representing, protecting, and advancing the interests of Western Balkan businesses.
