Macut, von Beckerath discuss Schengen area stay restrictions for professional drivers

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath on Monday to discuss the issue of Schengen area stay restrictions for professional drivers, faced by Serbian drivers in their daily work.

Macut presented to von Beckerath a non-paper with proposed solutions, aimed at maintaining competitiveness, efficiency of transport and continuity of trade and investment flows.

The non-paper proposes changes to the 90/180 rule for professional drivers and special status for the region as part of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the Serbian government said in a statement.

Macut said the problem had escalated since the introduction of the electronic border control system and was threatening to bring to a complete halt the operations of the transport communities of Serbia and other Western Balkan economies.

Macut said aviation and railway staff had already been exempt from the rule and that Serbia was offering concrete solutions that did not require changes to the Schengen Borders Code.

He noted that Serbia remained fully committed to constructive dialogue with the European Commission and EU member states with a view to finding a solution that would ensure unobstructed movement of goods, stability of supply chains and compliance with EU rules.

He expressed the belief that, through a partnership approach, a model could be found that would protect the interests of the EU, the market and the transport industry at the same time.

Macut expressed readiness to continue dialogue, in collaboration with the relevant institutions, to find a sustainable solution that would ensure stability, safety and efficiency of transport and economic exchange in the region and beyond.