On Thursday, May 22, peaceful protests took place outside the Spanish Ministry of Interior and the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid. Demonstrators called for the immediate reactivation of the process allowing Moroccan driving licenses to be exchanged for Spanish ones, in line with the bilateral agreement signed between the two countries on May 30, 2004, which is still legally valid. The protest was sparked by the years-long suspension of this administrative procedure, which has caused serious social and economic hardship for thousands of people of Moroccan origin living in Spain. Many of them are Spanish citizens or legal residents who hold valid driving licenses issued in Morocco, said Sabah Yacoubi, president of the Association of Moroccan Migrant Workers (ATIM). In posts on her X account, Yacoubi said the Spanish traffic authority, the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), has failed to enforce this agreement, offering no legal alternatives or clear explanations. As a result, many affected individuals have faced fines and even the confiscation of property, including their homes. According to ATIM, this situation violates basic principles of equality, legality, and non-discrimination guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution and international law. This is not the first protest on the issue. In January, Moroccan citizens also gathered in front of the DGT to demand action. Under the 2004 agreement, Moroccans with Spanish residence permits and Moroccan driving licenses issued before that year are entitled to exchange their licenses without taking a new driving test.
