Moroccan Truckers Face Crisis as Schengen Visa Delays Threaten International Trade

"Several international road transport companies in Agadir are threatened with bankruptcy due to the obstacles related to the issuance of visas by the Spanish consular services, in the absence of a special counter to process their applications, like in Tangier," denounced Istiqlal deputy Jamal Diwany, president of the productive sectors committee in the House of Representatives, in his question addressed to Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad (MRE).

The MP asked the minister to intervene with the diplomatic representatives of the European countries in Morocco to facilitate the granting of visas to Moroccan truckers, reports the daily Al Akhbar. RNI deputy Ismail Zitouni also questioned the minister on this subject, recalling that the difficulties in obtaining visas experienced by truckers are negatively impacting the trade agreements between Morocco and certain European countries.

In response, Nasser Bourita stated that "his department is constantly in contact with the foreign missions accredited in Morocco, inviting them to make more efforts, to review the procedures related, in particular to making appointments, to mitigate the complexity of the circuits and above all to a treatment preserving the dignity of visa applicants." The Moroccan Foreign Minister added that the issuance of visas remains "a sovereign issue managed by the foreign missions accredited in the Kingdom".