TERMINAL BLOCKADE ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED, BUSINESSES SUFFERING MAJOR LOSSES

BANJA LUKA, JANUARY 30 /SRNA/ - The Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska has called on transport companies and relevant authorities, including the Council of Ministers, to resolve the issues that have led to blockades at cargo terminals on the EU border, as businesses in Republika Srpska are suffering significant losses.

The Chamber's Secretary General Dragan Šepa said that the Chamber, together with the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, has been in contact with businesses. He added that a survey conducted among several companies showed that the losses they are incurring exceed several million marks.

He emphasized that business owners are trying to resolve this issue, even considering registering their companies in an EU country.

"The carriers' requirements must be met, because the limited 90/180-day system period is very short. We believe that the borders should be unblocked as soon as possible so that transport and the flow of goods can resume," Šepa told reporters in Banja Luka.

Carriers from BiH and Serbia have been blocking cargo terminals for the fifth day in protest against EU regulations limiting their stay in the EU. Carriers from Montenegro and North Macedonia stopped their blockades yesterday.