Spotlight: Macedonian transporters heavily hit by Serbia-Croatia migrant dispute

Macedonian transporters, suffering daily losses in millions of euros because of blocked border transit between Serbia and Croatia, on Thursday demanded a swift solution to the border tension between Belgrade and Zagreb over migrant influx.

Croatia was first to impose transit bans for Serbian transporters as a reaction to the huge number of migrants crossing the border from Serbia to Croatia. Serbian authorities responded with countermeasures by halting all transport of goods connected to Croatia through its territory.

Macedonian transporters, however, are also extremely affected by the measure. According to Biljana Muratovska, president of the Macedonian organization of transporters -- MAKAMTRANS, the number of vehicles blocked at the borders is huge and the economic costs will be enormous.

"We demand immediate reaction from the Macedonian institutions. Many of these trucks carry easy spoiled goods. At the Serbian border, they are blocking not only the trucks carrying goods from and to Croatia but also any goods that have any connection to Croatia. For example, even the goods that are paid for through a Croatian bank are not allowed to pass," Muratovska told Xinhua in Skopje on Thursday.

Macedonian transporters have contacted the transport and foreign ministries to demand a reaction, expecting authorities to issue a protest note in a bid to protect their rights.

"International institutions also have to react. This is becoming an international problem as well. The sense has to prevail at some point," Muratovska added.

Three trucks with Macedonian registration blocked the border checkpoint Batrovci-Bajakovo at the Serbian-Croatian border on Thursday morning to protest, because they were held for days and the goods they were carrying started to rot.

"We have many trucks carrying fruit and vegetables. Right in front of me there is a truck filled with peppers. Even if they let it now, the driver can drive the goods right to the dump. They are completely rotten. And there are at least 15 trucks like this one. It is better to be a migrant than a truck driver here!" one of the Macedonian transporters at this border crossing told Macedonian state television on Thursday.

The rising tension between Belgrade and Zagreb that started over the migrants influx on their joint border is increasingly resembling a real trade war. The measures imposed by both sides are affecting trade ties between all Balkan countries.

European Union Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has warned Serbia and Croatia that blocking mutual borders is not a solution to the migrant crisis affecting the Balkans and Europe though, both countries so far remain without a solution to their dispute. Endit