Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that the “smart border” which separates Spain and Morocco will be fully operational before the end of the year, in line with European Union (EU) deadlines.
The minister visited Ceuta this week to announce the completion of infrastructure work at the Tarajal border crossing.
The project, which has taken six years and over 22 million euros to complete, has created a modern border crossing that is compliant with EU requirements. It is expected to benefit both the city of Ceuta and its residents.
“It is very important to continue investing in security in both Ceuta and the rest of the country in order to equip ourselves with a smart border that is in line with the 21st century and a reasonable and coherent border perimeter in accordance with international law,” Marlaska said.
The new border crossing features three terminals for pedestrians and vehicles, as well as upgraded surveillance systems, power generation, telecommunications, and security.
The project also includes the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES), also known as the “smart border,” which has received 7.5 million euros of the total investment.
The EES will facilitate the passage of cross-border workers and Spanish residents in Tetouan.
In addition, the closed-circuit television (CCTV) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems have been modernized.
Other improvements include new people detectors, metal arches, baggage scanners, fingerprint search systems, handheld metal detectors, and access control systems.
The smart border system signifies a major leap forward in immigration control and border security.
By automating previously manual processes, the system will not only deter unauthorized entry but also identify individuals who overstay their visas, combat identity theft, and contribute to preventing and investigating serious crimes, including terrorism.
Additionally, the system will generate valuable data for cross-border crime investigations.
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