The several-mile column in Merdare due to increased control, some drivers waiting for Friday

In a column of several miles more than 100 carriers have been waiting for several days in Merdare, in Serbia's part. The column is created because of the increased control Kosovo is implementing for importing goods from Serbia.

Truck drivers are unhappy with long wait.

I haven't moved a millimeter since Friday. This is pure human torture, it's lasting. This is the biggest difficulty of work and loss of dervish. If this goes on, there's no more work”, says about Radio Free EuropeRadoslav Tanaskovic, transporter.

I'm waiting here on Friday, 6:00 p.m. I'm from Ferizaj. I did the shipment Friday. Here we go. Disaster. I've been here for four days. Our government does not allow. He only allowed one customs here. There are other customs, but it doesn't allow us to go anywhere alone here”, says Sadri Selimi, also transporter.

Dogana has confirmed that an average of 8 truckloads of Serbian goods are introduced in Merdare a day.

Currently, Serbian goods are only allowed to enter the border crossing at Merdare.

The Kosovo government has said that other points are opened after scanners are secured. Scans are seen as a solution not to enter Kosovo, which could affect security.

The government lifted the measure of ban on importing Serbian products on 6 October. Serbian goods were not allowed on June 15th of 2023 after the government banned imports for security reasons.

Kosovo was constantly asked to leave the move. The EU, the United States, and Germany were the most critical.

Germany said the detention measure damaged the Berlin Process as well as CEFTA. The government lifted the ban just a week before October 14th, when the 10th Berlin Process meeting was held.