Marrakech – According to Spanish media reports, the Spanish government has approved a significant modification to the reciprocal recognition of driving licenses with Morocco.
This change will eliminate the need for professional drivers to take a prior theoretical test when exchanging their Moroccan driving licenses for Spanish ones.
El Faro de Ceuta says that the modification, which was sent to the Spanish Parliament for final approval, represents a notable step in the collaboration between the two countries in matters of traffic and transportation.
The Council of Ministers backed Spain’s commitment to alter the previous agreement on the reciprocal recognition and exchange of national driving licenses through an exchange of notes with Morocco.
The initiative aims to facilitate and streamline the process for professional Moroccan drivers who need to validate their licenses in Spanish territory.
This comes a little over three months after the Council of Ministers approved on February 6 the signing of the exchange of notes that shaped this agreement. Meanwhile, the agreement itself was signed in Madrid on February 29 and March 6.
According to information provided by Moncloa, this modification has been provisionally applied since April 7.
The origins of this initiative can be traced back to a proposal made by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) in February 2019. The document, which suggested modifying point 4 of the agreement between Spain and Morocco on the recognition and exchange of national driving licenses, was originally signed on March 8, 2004.
The article established the requirement for Moroccan professional drivers to take a specific theoretical test when exchanging their driving licenses in Spain.
Read also: Morocco, Italy Sign Agreement for Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses
Under the new modification, the need to take theoretical and practical exams is eliminated for most cases, with the exception of Moroccan drivers who request the exchange of driving licenses equivalent to classes C, C+E, D, and D+E in Spain.
These drivers will be required to take a driving test on roads open to general traffic, using vehicles corresponding to the categories of the requested licenses. This adjustment reflects an effort to simplify the process while maintaining road safety standards.
This move is also strategic as Spain prepares to recruit 26,000 Moroccan truck drivers to address its labor shortage in the road transport sector.
The simplified process for professional drivers to validate their licenses in Spain, coupled with the attractive salary packages being offered, is expected to facilitate the onboarding of Moroccan drivers and help alleviate the pressing labor shortage.
