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Marrakech – In a visit to Ceuta on Monday, Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed that the “smart border” at the El Tarajal crossing between Ceuta and Morocco will be fully operational “before the end of the year.”
The minister emphasized that after six years of work and an investment of over €22 million, Ceuta now has a modern border post adapted to the needs and requirements of the European Union (EU).
According to Spanish media reports, Marlaska stated that the “smart border” will be up and running before the close of 2024, in line with the timelines set by the EU.
The minister was accompanied on his visit to El Tarajal by the Government Delegate in Ceuta, Cristina Pérez, and the Director General of Police, Francisco Pardo, among other authorities.
The minister toured the facilities of the three new terminals set up at the border crossing for the entry and exit of pedestrians and vehicles. He received explanations about the reorganization of spaces to facilitate greater efficiency and speed of movement.
The project included a comprehensive upgrade of the infrastructure, affecting interior spaces and systems for surveillance, power generation, telecommunications, and security.
Marlaska noted the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES), known as the “smart border”, which received €7.5 million of the total investment made in El Tarajal.
The EES establishes an agile crossing system to facilitate the passage of cross-border workers and Spanish residents in the Tetouan area of influence. The closed-circuit television systems and automatic license plate identification systems have also been modernized.
Among other improvements, the border crossing facilities now feature new people detection equipment, metal detectors, baggage scanners, rapid fingerprint identification systems, manual metal detectors, and access control systems.
Read also: Morocco to Discontinue 24-Hour Visas for Ceuta, Melilla
