Freight transport companies in the Western Balkans have announced planned blockades at cargo border terminals in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The action is expected to start on Monday, 26 January 2026, at 12:00, and could cause significant disruption to cross-border lorry traffic in the region.
According to the information released about the protest, the blockades would affect cargo terminals and could make entry into and exit from the countries involved impossible for heavy goods vehicles. Certain shipments are expected to be exempt, including lorries carrying medicines, live animals, and—according to some reports—also ammunition and explosives, which may be allowed to bypass the protest lines. The expected duration of the protest has not been specified.
Organisers describe the protest as a response to the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border-management tool designed to register the entry and exit of non-EU nationals travelling for short stays and to replace traditional passport stamping. The system is intended to improve oversight of the 90 days within any 180-day period rule for short-term stays in the Schengen area. Reports indicate that registration under EES began on 12 October 2025, with the system scheduled to become fully operational at all relevant external border points from 10 April 2026.
Hauliers’ organisations argue that the protest is not political. They say their goal is to highlight the practical impact of the new procedures on professional drivers and the wider economy that depends on international transport and timely cross-border logistics.
