Morocco and the European Union are discussing possible solutions to mounting visa and border-entry complications affecting Moroccan truck drivers after the bloc introduced its new Entry/Exit System (EES) last month, Moroccan officials and industry representatives said Tuesday.
The issue was at the center of a remote meeting held Monday between Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh and European commissioners responsible for sustainable transport, tourism, internal affairs and migration, according to the minister.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 13th International Transport and Logistics Exhibition in Casablanca, Kayouh said discussions focused on “constraints related to visa issuance,” which he described as a major obstacle to the competitiveness of Moroccan transport companies operating in Europe.
The minister characterized the talks as “very positive,” saying proposals had been put forward for short-, medium- and long-term solutions that would be studied in coordination with Spanish authorities to facilitate the entry of Moroccan drivers into the European area.
The European Union’s digital Entry/Exit System came into force on April 10 and introduced automated border monitoring for non-EU nationals entering and leaving the bloc. Moroccan transport professionals say the system has created operational disruptions for international freight companies, including cases in which drivers were automatically flagged for overstaying permitted residency periods.
Industry representatives reacted cautiously to the latest developments, saying the government’s recent diplomatic efforts had helped ease tensions within the sector.
A source from the Moroccan Association for Intercontinental Road Transport, known as AMTRI, said transport professionals had received “serious assurances” from the ministry following meetings with European officials.
The source said efforts are currently focused on finding “practical and rapid solutions” for professional drivers directly affected by complications linked to the EES system, adding that transport operators are waiting for those assurances to translate into concrete measures ensuring the smooth movement of Moroccan trucks into Europe.
El Hachmi Cherki, secretary-general of the General Union of International and National Transport Professionals, said the outcome of the ministerial meeting should be viewed with “cautious optimism.”
Cherki said current measures had mainly helped calm the market and reassure transport professionals while they await “sovereign and practical decisions” capable of fully resolving the crisis.
He warned that difficulties could persist for several more weeks because of administrative procedures and technical coordination required with European authorities, particularly Spain.
Cherki also called for accelerating implementation of solutions to avoid further losses for transport operators and to preserve trade flows affected by entry refusals and temporary restrictions linked to alleged overstays.
Moroccan authorities have described the matter as urgent because of its direct impact on supply chains and exports of Moroccan goods to European markets.
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