Truck drivers from North Macedonia proceeded from noon on Monday, January 26, to block customs at the country's border crossings with Schengen zone states, including Greece and Bulgaria, as well as with neighbouring non-Schengen countries, such as Albania and Kosovo.
According to the communiqués, the blockade concerns exclusively freight vehicles and applies to nine border crossings: three to Greece (Evzoni, Doirani, Niki Florina), three to Bulgaria, two to Albania and one to Kosovo. At the same time, the main border crossing with Serbia has been blocked by Serbian truck drivers. Passenger cars and buses are operating normally.
As reported by APE-MPE, the Association of Transporters of North Macedonia (MAKAMTRANS) reported that the blockade for trucks leaving the country came into force at 12:00 noon (13:00 Greek time), while for trucks entering North Macedonia it will start from midnight. As pointed out, carriers are oriented towards a seven-day blockade, with the possibility of re-evaluating their stance in case of positive developments within the week.
Carriers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are also taking part in the mobilizations, which have made similar blockades, protesting against the implementation of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES). It is noted that drivers from Albania and Kosovo are not participating in the mobilizations.
The associations of hauliers of the Western Balkan countries are calling for the exemption of professional truck drivers from the regulation that provides for a maximum stay of 90 days per six months in the Schengen zone, arguing that drivers travel exclusively for business reasons and cannot be equated with tourists.
The president of MAKAMTRANS, Biljana Mutatovska, stressed that the main request concerns the registration of the stay of professional drivers in the Schengen zone under the 90-day rule, warning that the full implementation of the new regulations may have a serious impact on the supply chain and the economy, both of North Macedonia and the wider region.
For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Nikoloski, described the implementation of the EES as a serious economic problem, noting that it can lead to the suspension of exports, an increase in transport costs and a decrease in the competitiveness of businesses.
On the contrary, the representative of the European Commission for Home Affairs, Marcus Lemmert, clarified that the EES does not introduce new rules for short stays in the Schengen area, but aims to improve the application of existing rules and detect irregularities, pointing out that the limit of 90 days per six months remains unchanged, with flexibility provisions for frequent transit carriers.
The Entry/Exit System (EES), which records the entry and exit of third-country nationals through biometrics, is gradually implemented from 12 October 2025, with full application from 10 April 2026.
