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The ongoing spread of COVID-19 virus across Europe has led to putting in place (or proposal to put in place) very strict measures by some member states at the EU level in order to prevent the risk of contagion. The most visible examples of such politics are travel bans introduced by some member states and reintroduction of border controls (including sanitary checks) at the internal and external EU borders. In order to reduce the impact of such measures on the EU internal market, the European Commission, on Monday 16 March, proposed for the EU external borders to be closed for the period of 30 days. This proposal primarily and largely affects the free movement of passengers at all EU external borders, and in principle it should not have an impact on trade with the neighboring states.

Meanwhile, the Western Balkans countries have put in place certain restrictive, often uncoordinated, travel and freight transport measures, which together with the measures taken by the EU member states increase congestions at the border crossing points causing long queues and delays with potentially adverse effects on both the sanitary situation and the essential goods supply.  

Despite the emergency sanitation situation, the flow of goods, especially that of essential goods (food supply, animal food, medicines, and medical equipment) must not be stopped.