93 percent of exports from Balkans blocked: Damages reach 92 million euros per day!

The president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), Marko Cadez, says that 93 percent of exports from the Balkans have been halted due to blockades of cargo terminals on the borders with European Union member-countries, which causes daily damages of around 92 million euros, or 109.95 million dollars.

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Cadez told Reuters that EU-based companies that operate in the region or export to it are also affected.

"For each company, this means a penalty of between 10,000 and 50,000 euros per day, because they are not delivering goods to customers," said Cadez.

He added that Serbia is asking for a meeting with the European Commission to discuss solutions such as special visas or permits.

Truckers from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue blocking cargo terminals at border crossings for the fifth day, while those from Montenegro and North Macedonia have suspended their blockades since the European Commission announced a new visa strategy that would solve the problem of restrictions affecting professional drivers from the region traveling to the Schengen zone.

They previously warned that applying the 90 out of 180 days visa rule to professional drivers threatens their work and the survival of transport companies in the countries of the Western Balkans.

The working version of EU's visa strategy that was presented yesterday in Brussels states that professionals from third countries, such as truck drivers, artists on tours, athletes attending sporting events, experts working on cross-border projects, the workforce supporting EU industries and services, may need to stay in the EU longer than the visa limit, but without intending to settle in the bloc permanently.

The document states that the EU will work closely with member states to identify pragmatic solutions for extended short stays for selected categories of third-country nationals, ensuring security and economic benefits for the EU, as well as legal clarity for travelers.

Currently, the EU law allows visa-free and visa-required travelers to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, while any stay longer than 90 days requires a long-term visa or residence permit issued by a member state.

(Telegraf Biznis/Tanjug)