Nikoloski: Problem for carriers will be solved by bilateral agreements, deal with Austria expected

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski told attendees at the Macedonian-Austrian Business Forum in Skopje that the state is pursuing bilateral agreements with Schengen countries to remove obstacles for domestic hauliers and enable uninterrupted freight flows.

“The solution is simple, but in essence complicated. We must conclude as many agreements as possible with as many countries. Within the Schengen area there is no restriction on which country issues your visa, because it covers the whole Schengen area,” Nikoloski said, describing the diplomatic track the ministry has launched.

According to Nikoloski, the transport ministry has already started negotiating bilateral accords with several Schengen states and a similar deal with Austria could be expected soon. He explained that Macedonian carriers typically use two main routes: one through Hungary, Austria and Germany, and another through Croatia, Slovenia and Germany, with some also transiting via France to the United Kingdom.

Long-term visas and competitive concerns

“I hope we will have good news soon, given that communication is intensive,” he added, referring to ongoing talks aimed at securing long-term visas for drivers.

Nikoloski also raised concerns about unfair competition in EU infrastructure tenders, saying many large contracts are won by firms from China and India instead of European companies. He argued EU taxpayers’ money should circulate within the European economy rather than flow outside the Union.

He warned that unresolved problems — restricted driver stays abroad and unequal tender conditions — undermine the free movement of goods. “I think we are talking about an absurdity. In the 21st century, with recognized liberalizations with a country that is a candidate for EU membership and has opened negotiations, to discuss whether a Macedonian carrier should count days, hours and minutes when they climb into a truck is absurd. If we have unfair competition on the one hand and no free flow of goods on the other, then there is no point in discussing anything. Conversely, if we solve these two problems, the opportunities are enormous,” Nikoloski said.

The minister referenced progress earlier this year when the EU acknowledged professional bus and truck drivers, enabling them to apply for long-term visas valid across the Schengen area. He noted that Croatia and Switzerland already issue such visas.

Last month, on 31 August, professional drivers and transporters organised by the transport association Makam-Trans staged a protest outside the EU Delegation in Skopje, parking about twenty trucks. Drivers said their main grievance was that days spent abroad are being counted as if they were tourists, which limits their permitted stay.

Photo: press material from the event