(PHOTO) Freight traffic blocked at border crossings; Šljivančanin: We will extend the protest if no agreement is reached

The Association of International Freight Hauliers of Montenegro blocked freight traffic at border crossings at noon today, demanding an urgent response from the competent authorities to long-standing problems facing the road transport sector.

According to earlier announcements, the Association will permanently park trucks in lay-bys near several border crossings and begin blocking the passage of all types of freight vehicles.

The Association’s President Vesko Šljivančanin said that they are willing to reach a solution through talks with the Government, but that they have already submitted a request to extend the protest beyond Thursday if no agreement is reached, Radio Television Montenegro (RTCG) reports.

- For now, we have no concrete promises and have decided to embark on this protest. This protest has no political character - we are not interested in politics. We are fighting for our companies to be competitive within the region, for our families and our livelihoods, because we have been pushed to the brink - Šljivančanin said.

He reiterated that hauliers are demanding changes to the level of excise duty refunds they receive per liter of fuel, faster refunds of value-added tax (VAT), longer working hours for border customs and phytosanitary inspections, changes to ETIAS, and the introduction of preferential pensionable service.

He stressed that they will remain at the borders until their demands are met.

- We have already submitted a request to the Police Directorate to extend the protest if no agreement is reached. I would also like to emphasize that we are ready and are calling on the Government for talks in order to reach concrete solutions, because protests are in no one’s interest - Šljivančanin said.

 Representatives of the Association previously stated that supermarkets and fuel stations would be most affected by the blockade, as the suspension of freight traffic also applies to food supplies and fuel.

Passengers and those transporting medicines, animals, explosives, and weapons will be able to pass unhindered during the protest.

Truck drivers are organizing the blockade to demand changes to the level of excise duty refunds per liter of fuel, faster VAT refunds, longer operating hours for border customs and phytosanitary inspections, changes to ETIAS, and preferential pensionable service.

The suspension of freight traffic is also part of a regional protest by freight hauliers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, due to restrictions limiting the duration of stay and work of professional drivers in Schengen countries to a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period.

According to the Association, the protest will continue until the demands are met.

The Police Directorate has approved the hauliers’ protest for 72 hours, i.e. until Thursday at noon.