In the announcement of the Logistics Consortium of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), it is stated that 100 forcibly returned professional drivers from European Union (EU) countries have been registered, and 47 drivers have lost their jobs due to problems with residence in EU countries.
They point out that the competent institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, Poland and other countries have confirmed that they processed an additional 100 cases of forced return (deportation) just yesterday.
Forced return means that the individual, due to the assessed risk or formal interpretation of the stay, has been declared a person who is “illegally” in the territory of a certain country, and regardless of employment status, employment contract and documentation – is forcibly returned to the home country.
“Forced return means that a duly employed worker, with a valid employment contract and complete documentation, has been declared an ‘illegal resident’ and forcibly removed, regardless of the fact that he does not break the law, does not seek asylum, does not pose any security risk and performs exclusively professional work in international road transport,” the Consortium explains.
In the last 365 days, in Germany alone, 100 professional drivers have been fired just for working.
“In a period of only 365 days from the first entry of professional drivers, Germany registered and forcibly returned 100 drivers, even though they are persons who have proper and valid employment contracts, possess all legally prescribed documentation, perform exclusively professional work in international road transport, do not represent a security, migration or social risk”, they point out.
In the continuation of the announcement, the Consortium calls on all competent institutions to harmonize the official and operational position with the European Commission without delay.
Consortium Logistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina considers it necessary to further explain to the public the deliberate and wrong parallel with the EES (Entry/Exit System), which is increasingly used in media appearances and institutional responses as an excuse for repressive measures against professional drivers from the Western Balkans.
“The problem faced by professional drivers has nothing to do with the EES system. There is no technical issue that would justify forced removal, detention, deportation or entry bans. If the European Commission advocates equality and the elimination of discrimination, then the issue of the status of professional drivers cannot and should not be connected with the EES,” say the Consortium.
They add that the European Commission avoids a meaningful explanation of the problem, responding with curt and formal answers, without substance and without taking responsibility.
The logistics consortium asks the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina whether they are in a position to shut down road transport and transport companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Either you are knowingly or unknowingly part of the workforce evacuation agenda, not through migration, but through the persecution of properly employed people who work in accordance with laws and international agreements? The facts are inexorable and refer only to the last 365 days – 100 forcibly expelled professional drivers, 47 lost jobs, more than 100 days spent in detention and prisons in EU countries,” say the Consortium.
In addition, for Monday, January 26, a regional protest of the transport sector has been announced at EU freight border crossings due to accumulated problems related to the stay of drivers.
The consortium invited the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH to officially and at the highest level address the European Commission with a request for a written, unique and binding interpretation, to use all mechanisms available to BiH through the Stabilization and Association Agreement and other international agreements as well as political dialogue, writes Klix.
