President of the Serbian Drivers’ Union, Milisav Osmanović, said that the union sent an urgent request to the Government of Serbia and Prime Minister Đuro Macut a month ago seeking a meeting over key issues in the transport sector — including the recent introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) — but has received no response.
Osmanović explained that the new EU border system itself is not the main cause of delays, since biometric checks take only a few minutes. The real issue, he said, lies in the customs terminal procedures, which now last up to two hours instead of 30 minutes. “About 350 trucks used to pass per shift; now it’s barely 150,” he said, describing the problem as political rather than technical, and accusing the state of failing to provide explanations or assistance.
In its letter to the government, the union listed three major concerns:
- Schengen stay limits for drivers, which could soon disrupt international transport.
- Poor economic conditions, as many drivers are officially registered at the lowest wage levels.
- Unrecognized work conditions, with the state failing to account for the specific nature of drivers’ employment when calculating benefits and pensions.
Osmanović stressed that the transport industry employs over 100,000 professional drivers and is vital to Serbia’s economy, yet remains neglected.
The EU’s digital Entry/Exit System, introduced on October 12, records non-EU travelers’ passport data, fingerprints, and photos, along with their time and place of entry and exit. Registration is valid for three years, and full implementation is planned by April 2026.
