Morocco’s international road transport sector continues to face mounting challenges as professional truck drivers encounter growing difficulties obtaining visas to enter the European Union, industry sources told Hespress AR.
According to the sources, transport operators remain in a wait-and-see position as negotiations between Moroccan authorities and European partners continue, hoping for a resolution to a problem that professionals say is undermining the competitiveness of Moroccan companies.
Industry representatives report that Moroccan transport firms are experiencing a continued decline in performance due to increasing obstacles in securing professional visas for drivers engaged in international freight operations.
The impact extends beyond the transport sector itself, affecting companies’ ability to meet contractual obligations with European partners and potentially disrupting Moroccan exports, according to sector stakeholders.
Professionals note that international truck drivers now face not only rising fuel costs, toll charges and transit fees, but also increasingly complex administrative procedures to obtain the visas required to carry out their work.
Industry organizations have warned that the situation gives a competitive advantage to foreign transport companies, particularly those operating within the European Union, which do not face the same restrictions. They argue that the continued difficulties risk gradually weakening the position of Moroccan carriers in the international transport market.
Sector representatives are calling for continued dialogue with European authorities to develop rapid and sustainable solutions. Among the proposals put forward are simplified procedures specifically designed for professional drivers and the issuance of longer-duration visas to facilitate transport operations and preserve the competitiveness of Moroccan firms.
The issue has gained urgency following the implementation of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) on April 10, which has created additional challenges for Moroccan professional drivers operating in Europe and complicated logistics planning for Moroccan transport companies.
Earlier this year, Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh said the visa issue was the focus of a virtual meeting with the European Commissioner responsible for Sustainable Transport and Tourism and the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration.
Kayouh said discussions centered on the constraints surrounding visa issuance, which he described as a genuine obstacle to the competitiveness of Moroccan businesses. He characterized the talks as “highly positive.”
The minister also noted that a series of short-, medium- and long-term solutions had been proposed and would be examined in coordination with Spanish authorities to facilitate access for Moroccan drivers to European territory.
Industry stakeholders are now awaiting concrete outcomes from those discussions as concerns grow over the long-term impact on Morocco’s transport and export sectors.
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