Europe’s chronic truck-driver shortage has prompted the EU to launch a major recruitment and training initiative aimed at North Africa. The Skilled Driver Mobility for Europe II (SDM4EU II) program, backed by nearly €6 million, aims to train 600 candidates from Morocco and Egypt. By the end of 2028, 200 are expected to be selected for jobs in Italy and Romania. The challenge is reflected in International Road Transport Union (IRU) estimates of about 502,000 unfilled truck-driver positions across Europe in 2025, equivalent to a 13% shortage rate.
The project began in June 2026 and receives 95% of its funding from the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. Official documents say the program will create two dedicated labor corridors: Morocco to Italy and Egypt to Romania. Each corridor will send 100 drivers for relocation after they complete a rigorous training and selection process.
Selective Pathway
All 600 candidates will receive technical and practical training, but only a third will advance to the European mobility phase. Companies from Italy and Romania will take part directly in selection missions, assessing candidates who have completed the initial preparation. The program will also upskill 30 local trainers to support training quality and continuity.
Spain, despite its own acute driver shortage, is not part of this edition of the project. The pilot covers Italy and Romania, while driver scarcity affects transport markets across Europe. The IRU’s figures point to a long-term workforce challenge: the average European truck driver is about 48, and people aged 24 or younger account for roughly 5% of the workforce. As a technical partner, the IRU will help set training standards and support integration in the host countries.
Training and Integration
The SDM4EU II program begins by reviewing Morocco’s and Egypt’s existing training systems and updating them to meet EU requirements. All 600 candidates will receive technical instruction and hands-on driving practice. Those selected for relocation will get additional preparation for European road conditions and labor standards, along with language training. The process also covers the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), known in Spain as the Certificado de Aptitud Profesional, and the legal documents required for employment. Professional qualification and licence recognition are practical steps in international recruitment: technical training alone does not make someone eligible to lead commercially in an EU member state.
After arriving, drivers will receive structured onboarding, including mentorship and continued language training, alongside administrative and legal support. Host companies are expected to help with integration, while the IRU will maintain a knowledge-sharing platform to document practices for possible future expansion. Recruitment is only part of the response: predictable schedules, enough time at home and suitable vehicle conditions also affect retention, as does access to secure parking.
Why the EU Is Looking Abroad
The driver shortage in Europe is structural. The IRU estimates that about 660,500 European truck drivers could retire by 2030, on top of roughly 502,000 vacancies recorded in 2025. The shortfall is already affecting business: about two-thirds of surveyed European road-transport operators said they had rejected new contracts because they lacked drivers. Smaller operators report shortage rates around six percentage points higher than larger companies, leaving them particularly exposed to recruitment and retention pressures. High training costs and difficult working conditions, along with a lack of secure parking, continue to deter new recruits. Women make up just 4% of the sector’s workforce.
The SDM4EU II initiative is part of the European Commission’s Talent Partnerships, which combine vocational training with qualification recognition, fair recruitment and integration support. Morocco and Egypt have both prioritized the transport sector in their cooperation with the EU, aiming to create legal and safe migration pathways for skilled workers.
Management and Funding
GOPA Partners in Action for Change and Engagement coordinates the project, with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Fondazione Soleterre ETS, and the ICAR Foundation as basic partners. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) oversees implementation through the Migration Partnership Facility. The IRU handles technical standards and dissemination.
As the EU seeks new ways to address labor shortages, the SDM4EU II program could provide a blueprint for cross-border recruitment in other sectors. The EU’s investment in targeted solutions also echoes its recent commemorative initiatives, including the release of a special 5-euro coin celebrating Spain’s 2026 World Cup victory, as reported in this coverage of Spain’s collector coin launch.
SDM4EU II links skilled labor migration with training, recruitment, qualification processes and post-arrival integration, reflecting a shift in the EU’s approach.
