Brussels – When a region such as the Western Balkans is so geographically close to and economically intertwined with the European Union, yet is still denied full access to the Single Market and meaningful political inclusion, structural vulnerabilities can quickly translate into serious disruptions for local producers, many of whom depend heavily on sales within the EU market.
This dynamic has become increasingly visible in recent months following the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which has been gradually implemented since October 2025. The electronic system digitally records entries and exits and effectively prevents breaches of the long-standing Schengen rules limiting non-EU nationals to 90 days’ stay within any 180-day period.
According to the Bosnian Logistika association, more than 100 Bosnian truck drivers were arrested and deported in 2025 for exceeding the 90-day limit on their stay in the EU, with many more at risk. In late January, drivers across the Western Balkan countries organised a blockade of border cargo terminals in protest against the EU’s entry rules.
Although tensions eased after a few days and technical discussions mediated by the Commission are ongoing, a sustainable solution is still far from sight, and local producers are worried about the risks posed by a lack of flexibility.
What is the issue with the EU–Western Balkans borders?
It must be noted that the Schengen restrictions were already in place before the implementation of the EES. However, the shift from passport stamps to biometric controls and the strict enforcement of border rules on Balkan truck drivers are proving unsustainable for many companies in the region – which are closely integrated into the EU market but do not enjoy the same rights as EU companies and are instead treated as all other third-country commercial partners.
On the one hand, several EU governments and logistics industry associations, particularly in Central and Northern Europe, argue that transport operators based in third countries benefit from lower wages and less stringent regulatory frameworks. According to them, this creates unfair competition, allowing Balkan operators to circumvent existing EU rules and operate freely within the Single Market – transporting goods not only from the Western Balkans into the EU, but also between EU member states.
On the other hand, transport workers’ associations in the Western Balkans argue that the implementation of EU travel limits could trigger daily export losses of up to €100 million and disrupt trade that few alternative operators could sustain. They warn that the resulting damage would extend across the regional economy, with far-reaching implications for producers of all kinds – from berry growers to steel manufacturers.
In short, this issue highlights how unsustainable the relationship between the two blocs is becoming unless the Western Balkans are gradually integrated into the EU, rather than being treated merely as one of many third countries. Experts speaking to The New Union Post have repeatedly argued that entry into the Single Market would be a major breakthrough for the region, and that introducing greater flexibility for Balkan producers and truck drivers could be a first step in that direction. Yet the real economic game-changer would be the full EU accession of all six Balkan countries.
Amid frustration and the need for a way out
“In our opinion, this reflects a strict and intolerant bureaucratic attitude on the part of the EU administration, which we experience at the EU borders,” says Skender Hot, founder of Cooperativa ‘Insieme’, speaking to The New Union Post. Since 2003, this Bosnian cooperative has supported the economic and social integration of returnees in the Bratunac–Srebrenica area after the war and genocide of the 1990s, reviving the local tradition of berry cultivation and developing a sustainable economic model that is also viable on the EU market, particularly in Italy.
“We are exposed to procedures that sometimes take several days, harassment of drivers, and loss of time and payment of additional fees to ‘protect the European Union’ from risks from third countries,” Hot warns, referring to what officials describe as procedures for obtaining health certificates or laboratory analyses of products to prevent prohibited pesticides.
However, the most worrying issue is the introduction of the EES, “which threatens to disrupt supply chains,” he continues. If this problem is not resolved “quickly,” raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries from Cooperativa ‘Insieme’ “will not reach the Italian market on time,” where they are sold by several Coop stores – one of Italy’s largest supermarket chains, run by a system of consumer cooperatives. “This situation puts us at risk of losing the European market,” Hot emphasises.
The European Commission is aware of the concerns raised by producers and logistics operators in the Western Balkans. Technical-level contacts with regional partners are ongoing, and a meeting with the Balkan ministers took place on 3 February. “The aim was to ensure a clear understanding” of how the Entry/Exit System functions and to discuss “measures to mitigate potential negative impacts,” explained the Commission’s spokesperson responsible for Internal Affairs, Markus Lammert.
As some EU sources explain to The New Union Post, the discussions are exploring “flexible solutions,” which could lead to a proposal to amend the EES Regulation – a process requiring approval by the co-legislators in the European Parliament and the Council. Progress is expected “quickly,” with the next meeting of the technical-level working group scheduled for 10 February.
