EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS URGED TO HELP RESOLVE BORDER BLOCKADE ISSUE

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 29 /SRNA/ – The Republika Srpska Government is open to helping transport operators, but urgent reaction by European institutions is required to resolve the freight traffic blockade issue at border crossings with the EU, Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Đokić stated.

Đokić warns that significant damage due to border blockades is worrying, as it affects business entities and citizens of Srpska and the region. "European institutions should not underestimate this, thus our Government is appealing for them to react urgently, enable the normal flow of traffic, and work in a timely manner on resolving this important issue," Đokić said at a press conference following a session of the Republika Srpska Government. He stressed that this is important because European institutions had previously taken very unpopular, unfair, and harmful measures that have caused major damage to local transport operators. Đokić emphasized the Government’s readiness to help, even though it had no influence on the creation of the problem in question. "In this regard, we cannot adopt any solution ourselves. Yesterday, some European institutions announced the adoption of a certain act that would amend previously made decisions, and through this we might partially expect that it could be a solution," Đokić said. He added that, so far, the Government has received no notification that the situation has changed. The transport operators’ protest began on Monday, January 26, at noon due to accumulated problems related to drivers’ stays in Schengen member countries, with the latest issue being the new system for entry into EU member states. They believe that drivers are now being treated practically as tourists and are demanding exemption from the 90/180 rule. The Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce yesterday called on the Logistics BiH Consortium to direct protest activities at freight border crossings toward the BiH institutions, primarily the Council of Ministers, as the border blockade is paralyzing the economy of Srpska, which is already suffering enormous damage.