Truck drivers in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia escalated blockades of cargo terminals on 28 January 2026 to protest the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which they say has already led to hundreds of deportations for overstaying Schengen time limits. The protests have choked a key road corridor linking Turkey to Central Europe, forcing Austrian logistics providers to reroute traffic via Romania or Croatia.
Reuters reports that Bosnian businesses have already lost €8 million, and Montenegro’s energy ministry warned of imminent fuel shortages due to the blockade of Bar port. Austrian importers of automotive components and white goods—many of which transit through Belgrade—face delivery delays of two to four days, according to the Association of Austrian Freight Forwarders.
![Balkan Truck Blockades Disrupt EU Corridors—Austrian Supply Chains on Alert]()
If the stoppage continues, Vienna fuel traders fear spot-market prices could rise just as Alpine tourism hits peak season; roughly 12 % of Austria’s diesel imports pass through Balkan depots. Forwarders are advising exporters to book rail capacity via the Adriatic Gate in Rijeka or to switch to unaccompanied container shipping from Istanbul.
The dispute also highlights the knock-on effects of the forthcoming EES roll-out. Austrian HR teams sending technicians to Western Balkan sites should double-check remaining Schengen days and expect stricter passport scans when workers re-enter Austria.
Reuters reports that Bosnian businesses have already lost €8 million, and Montenegro’s energy ministry warned of imminent fuel shortages due to the blockade of Bar port. Austrian importers of automotive components and white goods—many of which transit through Belgrade—face delivery delays of two to four days, according to the Association of Austrian Freight Forwarders.
If the stoppage continues, Vienna fuel traders fear spot-market prices could rise just as Alpine tourism hits peak season; roughly 12 % of Austria’s diesel imports pass through Balkan depots. Forwarders are advising exporters to book rail capacity via the Adriatic Gate in Rijeka or to switch to unaccompanied container shipping from Istanbul.
The dispute also highlights the knock-on effects of the forthcoming EES roll-out. Austrian HR teams sending technicians to Western Balkan sites should double-check remaining Schengen days and expect stricter passport scans when workers re-enter Austria.
Source: Reuters via ThePrint
