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Spain Greenlights Mutual Driving License Recognition with Morocco

Thursday 13 June 2024 - 09:30

Spain has taken a significant step to ease the process for Moroccan professional drivers to validate their licenses, removing the necessity for prior theoretical tests. This move marks an important milestone in the collaborative efforts between the two nations in the realms of traffic and transportation.

According to reports from Spanish media, the Spanish government has sanctioned a notable amendment to the reciprocal recognition of driving licenses with Morocco. This change, which now only requires final approval from the Spanish Parliament, will streamline the process for professional Moroccan drivers seeking to exchange their Moroccan driving licenses for Spanish ones.

El Faro de Ceuta highlights that this legislative adjustment was forwarded to the Spanish Parliament, emphasizing the deepening cooperation between Spain and Morocco. The Council of Ministers endorsed Spain’s commitment to revising the existing agreement on the reciprocal recognition and exchange of national driving licenses through an exchange of diplomatic notes with Morocco.

The primary objective of this initiative is to simplify and expedite the validation process for professional Moroccan drivers operating within Spanish territory. This development comes just over three months following the Council of Ministers' approval on February 6 for the exchange of notes, which formally structured this agreement. The agreement itself was signed in Madrid on February 29 and March 6, respectively.

As reported by Moncloa, this modification has been provisionally in effect since April 7. The roots of this initiative can be traced back to a proposal from the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) in February 2019. The DGT's proposal aimed to amend point 4 of the 2004 agreement between Spain and Morocco concerning the recognition and exchange of national driving licenses.

Previously, Moroccan professional drivers were required to pass a specific theoretical test when exchanging their driving licenses in Spain. Under the new amendment, the requirement for theoretical and practical exams has been eliminated for most cases. However, Moroccan drivers applying for the exchange of licenses equivalent to classes C, C+E, D, and D+E in Spain will still need to take a driving test on public roads using vehicles corresponding to the requested license categories. This adjustment is designed to simplify the process while ensuring road safety standards are upheld.

This strategic move coincides with Spain's efforts to recruit 26,000 Moroccan truck drivers to address a significant labor shortage in its road transport sector. By simplifying the validation process for professional drivers and offering attractive salary packages, Spain aims to facilitate the integration of Moroccan drivers into its workforce, thereby mitigating the pressing labor shortage.

In summary, the approval of this reciprocal driving license recognition underscores the strengthening ties between Spain and Morocco and serves as a vital step in addressing Spain’s labor demands in the transportation sector.