Egypt and Morocco Join the Project
The European Union has launched the Skilled Driver Mobility for Europe II programme, known as SDM4EU II, to develop legal labour mobility pathways for professional drivers from North Africa.
According to the International Road Transport Union, the project aims to train 600 drivers: 300 in Egypt and another 300 in Morocco. All participants are expected to receive professional preparation aligned with the requirements of Europe’s road transport market.
The programme does not mean that all 600 participants will automatically receive jobs or move to the EU. Direct labour mobility support will be provided to one-third of them, representing 200 drivers.
Egyptian Drivers Will Be Prepared for Romania
The programme will establish two separate recruitment corridors. One hundred drivers from Egypt will be prepared for employment with Romanian transport companies, while 100 Moroccan participants will be connected with employers in Italy.
Support will cover the candidate’s entire pathway, from initial selection to retention in employment. The process includes technical and language training, employer matching, document preparation, legal relocation, post-arrival integration and measures designed to help drivers remain in their jobs.
Romania’s National Union of Road Hauliers, UNTRR, will support the integration of drivers in Romania. The Italian Road Haulage Federation, FAI, will perform a similar role in Italy.
Programme Will Test a Scalable Model
SDM4EU II is a pilot project rather than an already approved programme for mass recruitment across the entire European Union. Its purpose is to determine whether a sustainable and replicable system can be established for attracting qualified professionals from outside the EU.
If the model succeeds, elements of it could be used to expand labour mobility between European states and partner countries. This approach could reduce the need for individual carriers to manage every stage of international recruitment, from finding candidates to securing recognition of qualifications and work authorisations.
The project will also improve the skills of 30 local trainers. This component is intended to expand training capacity in Egypt and Morocco and align professional driver education more closely with European market requirements.
IRU Will Oversee Training Standards
The programme began in June 2026 and will continue until December 2028. It is co-funded by the European Union and contracted by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development through the Migration Partnership Facility.
GOPA PACE coordinates the project. The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Soleterre and the ICAR Foundation are also participating as project partners.
IRU acts as the technical partner responsible for training standards and industry advocacy. It will therefore not directly recruit all participants but will help define professional preparation and qualification requirements.
Europe Seeks an Answer to Driver Shortages
The initiative comes as Europe’s road freight industry continues to face a persistent shortage of professional drivers. An ageing workforce and limited recruitment of young people are encouraging transport companies to search more actively for employees outside the European Union.
Organisers stress that international recruitment should supplement rather than replace efforts to attract younger workers and women within the EU. Legal migration, transparent employment and continuous support before and after relocation are presented as central principles of the project.
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