Skopje, 11 September 2026 (MIA) - A meeting with representatives of some Schengen member states, hosted by the EU Delegation to Belgrade, resulted in the cancellation of the protest by transporters from North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro that was set to take place on September 14, Makam-Trans association said on Friday.

The transporters were scheduled to block the border crossings leading to EU member states.

"We have shown good will and understanding, considering the commodity supply problems that would ensue between the Western Balkans and the EU. We have put our faith in the promise that the process of finding a solution for professional drivers and their stay in the Schengen zone beyond the 90/180 days will gain pace, up until the adoption of the new visa strategy in the second half of 2027," says Makam-Trans.

The associations are asking that professional drivers be exempt from the rule limiting stays in the Schengen area to 90 days within a 180-day period. The problem directly affects nearly 17,000 professional drivers in the country, or approximately 100,000 across the entire Western Balkans.

MIA file photo