Nikoloski: Macedonian hauliers eight months in limbo, seeking bilateral long‑term visas
Nikoloski told Austrian business leaders that bilateral deals for long‑term Schengen visas — already agreed with Croatia and Slovenia — should be extended to Austria.
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski told Austrian business representatives at a forum in the Chamber of Commerce that Macedonian hauliers have been living in uncertainty for eight months and the problem must be solved urgently.
He warned that discussions are pointless unless practical ways exist to move goods reliably between North Macedonia and Austria. "We can talk here as much as we like, but if there is no way to properly transport goods from Macedonia to Austria and from Austria to Macedonia, our discussions are pointless," Nikoloski said.
Nikoloski proposed concluding bilateral agreements with Schengen member states that would allow Macedonian professional drivers to receive long‑term visas. He noted that North Macedonia already has such agreements with Croatia and Slovenia and that talks are underway with other countries.
"We already have such an agreement with Croatia, we already have such an agreement with Slovenia. We are now talking with several other countries, and I ask you to speak with the relevant institutions and authorities so that we can reach such an agreement with Austria as well," he stressed.
The transport minister explained the urgency by pointing to the multiple routes Macedonian carriers use across Europe: one major corridor runs via Hungary, Austria and Germany, another goes through Croatia and Slovenia toward Germany, and some carriers continue to France and the United Kingdom — which Nikoloski mentioned as North Macedonia's second largest trading partner.
If a driver obtains a long‑term visa from one Schengen country, Nikoloski said, that should enable movement across the entire Schengen area. He did not give a deadline for reaching an agreement with Austria but said that intensive communication could soon deliver concrete results. "I would not want to set a deadline, however I believe that very soon we will be able to bring good news," he said.
Separately, truck drivers cancelled a planned protest at the last moment after receiving a new assurance from the European Union, Nikoloski noted.
Photo: Sloboden pechat / Slobodan Gjurikj
