Border delays, permit digitalisation, and visa hurdles dominated discussions at BSEC-URTA’s General Assembly last week, as regional leaders tackled urgent threats to road transport and trade in the Black Sea region.
IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto outlined key measures to improve transport and transit in the Black Sea region at BSEC-URTA’s 45th General Assembly last week in Chisinau, Moldova.
Long waiting times at key border crossing points remain dire. They are choking supply chains and draining industry resources. Between 2020 and 2024, disinfection fees at Turkish and Bulgarian borders exceeded EUR 64 million – an unsustainable and unjustified burden.
To ease these burdens, IRU is urging wider adoption of practical tools such as TIR-EPD Green Lanes, already operational in Romania and Moldova, and at many borders across Central Asia. TIR-EPD Green Lanes accelerate border crossings and cut costs caused by long waiting times. They also help reduce carbon emissions. The TIR system has been shown to cut CO2 emissions by 90% at borders in Saudi Arabia.
Umberto de Pretto further noted that TIR-EPD Green Lanes should be followed by a faster implementation of eTIR, encouraging customs authorities to fully integrate the system or adopt the streamlined eTIR National Application. This digital shift will raise transparency and boost efficiency at every stage of transport.
Digitalisation is central to optimising trade and transit in the region. Türkiye is moving forward with an ePermit project in partnership with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Other BSEC-URTA member states are encouraged to follow suit and expand the initiative.
In addition, expanding the BSEC permit system to include Bulgaria, Greece and Azerbaijan is seen as vital to advancing regional trade.
Driver shortages and visa barriers
The shortage of professional drivers, compounded by long visa delays, excessive paperwork, short validity periods, and high costs, was also in sharp focus.
The IRU Visa Working Group has made a breakthrough by placing the issue on the ILO’s official work programme, paving the way for impact assessments and tailored policy recommendations.
IRU is also calling for a standardised visa document list and a reassessment of restrictive rules such as the 90-day Schengen limit, which treats essential drivers like tourists and penalises them for delays outside their control.
Firsthand look at bottlenecks
Ahead of the General Assembly, IRU visited the Leuşeni–Albița border crossing between Moldova and Romania, where delays often reach up to seven days.
Refining border controls, using joint controls, expanding digital tools such as e-queuing systems, and implementing TIR-EPD Green Lanes are proven approaches to resolving bottlenecks at borders and keeping goods flowing across the region.
