WB6 CIF Welcomes the End of Blockades and Reaffirms Commitment to a Permanent Solution for Professional Drivers
The Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) welcomes the termination of the recent road transport blockades that disrupted cross-border freight movements between the Western Balkans and the European Union. While the restoration of traffic flows brings short-term relief to companies and supply chains, the underlying structural problem affecting professional drivers remains unresolved.
The blockades were a direct consequence of prolonged regulatory uncertainty and the continued application of the EU’s 90/180 rule to non-EU professional drivers, despite their essential role in ensuring the uninterrupted movement of goods. These disruptions once again demonstrated the extreme vulnerability of regional and EU supply chains to regulatory barriers affecting road transport, the dominant mode of freight movement across the Western Balkans.
Throughout this period, the WB6 CIF has acted as the coordinating voice of the business and transport community of the Western Balkans, working intensively to prevent further escalation while simultaneously pursuing institutional solutions. The Forum has:
- formally addressed the European Commission and relevant Directorates-General with written appeals and analytical submissions,
- provided evidence-based assessments of the economic damage caused by the application of the 90/180 rule,
- coordinated positions of the Western Balkans chambers and transport associations,
- and engaged in continuous dialogue with national authorities and international partners to safeguard the flow of goods.
The WB6 CIF underlines that road transport is not an alternative but the backbone of trade in the region, accounting for the overwhelming majority of freight movements and linking Western Balkans producers, exporters and consumers directly with the EU Single Market. Any disruption to this system immediately translates into higher costs, delayed deliveries, and reduced competitiveness — for both Western Balkans and EU companies.
With the blockades now lifted, the WB6 CIF reiterates that temporary de-escalation cannot substitute for a durable policy solution. The Forum will therefore continue its efforts toward:
- securing proportionate and differentiated treatment of professional drivers under EU mobility and stay rules,
- advancing interim arrangements that prevent further operational disruptions,
- and contributing to a long-term, legally sound framework that recognises professional drivers as essential economic actors rather than short-term visitors.
In parallel, the WB6 CIF has launched a new initiative aimed at addressing the issue in a structured and forward-looking manner. The Forum has formally proposed the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Visa Facilitation and Mobility, bringing together the European Commission, chambers of commerce, transport associations and affected companies. The objective is to move from ad-hoc crisis management toward a permanent, balanced and secure solution for business and transport-related mobility, grounded in evidence and aligned with EU economic and security priorities.
The WB6 CIF remains fully committed to constructive engagement with the European Commission and EU Member States and stands ready to support solutions that protect border management objectives while ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of EU–Western Balkans supply chains.
