Truck drivers to protest at EU office in Skopje tomorrow
Drivers demand Schengen rules be adjusted so their time in the zone isn’t counted in full days; protest timed before the 1 September Schengen meeting.
Transport companies and truck drivers in North Macedonia will stage a protest tomorrow (31 August 2026) in front of the European Union office in Skopje, organizers said, demanding easier movement rules inside the Schengen area. The protest is scheduled to run from 12:00 to 14:00, ahead of a planned meeting of Schengen member states on 1 September.
The protesters want the EU to change how border authorities count their time spent inside Schengen so that they can operate without interruptions. They say current rules prevent them from working freely across the zone.
What they are asking for
At the core of the dispute is the rule that treats truck drivers the same as other third‑country nationals: a maximum of 90 days within the last 180 days. Transporters argue this calculation forces drivers out of the zone and disrupts freight flows.
Organizers say that if an outright exemption — similar to those granted to train drivers and airline pilots — is not possible, the EU should at least change the accounting method so drivers’ presence is measured in hours and minutes instead of whole days.
The action in Skopje will be mirrored by simultaneous protests by transporters in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the organizers added. They hope the demonstrations will put pressure on Schengen states ahead of the 1 September meeting.
Photo: press material from the event
