Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MPJD) said that the lengthy delays experienced by travelers at the Bajakovo border crossing between Croatia and Serbia on Sunday were primarily caused by the implementation of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES).
In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the situation has since stabilized and that traffic is now flowing without significant delays.
The ministry said that, through the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Croatia, it remained in continuous contact with Croatian border authorities, who confirmed that the temporary congestion resulted mainly from the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires additional border control procedures.
The EES is a new European Union digital border management system designed to register the entry and exit of non-EU nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area, replacing the traditional passport stamping process.
On Sunday, numerous members of Kosovo’s diaspora reported waiting for several hours at the Bajakovo border crossing while traveling through Croatia during the busy summer holiday season.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora said it continues to monitor the situation closely and remains in contact with the relevant authorities to assist Kosovo citizens traveling through the region.
