The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, confirmed on Wednesday in Ceuta the completion of the infrastructures of the El Tarajal pass and has advanced that the intelligent border will be fully operational before the end of the year, according to the forecasts and deadlines established by the European Union.
“After six years of work and more than 22 million investments, Ceuta now has a modern border post adapted to the needs and requirements of the EU, which will benefit the autonomous city and the entire Ceuta population,” said the minister during a visit to El Tarajal, accompanied, among other authorities, by the Government delegate in Ceuta, Cristina Pérez, and by the Director General of Police, Francisco Pardo.
Grande-Marlaska has toured the facilities of the three new terminals enabled at the border crossing for the entry and exit of pedestrians and vehicles and has received explanations on the reorganization of the spaces to facilitate the greater efficiency and speed of the movements. The work has included an integral adaptation of the infrastructures, which has affected the interior spaces and the systems of surveillance, electrical generation, telecommunications and security.
The minister has noted the implementation of the Entry/Exit system (EES), known as the smart border, which has received 7.5 million euros from the investment made in El Tarajal. The ESS establishes an agile passage system to facilitate the passage of cross-border workers and Spanish residents in the areas of influence of Tetouan. Closed-circuit television systems and automatic license plate identification systems have also been modernized.
Among other improvements, the border crossing facilities include new personnel detection equipment, metal arches, baggage scanners, rapid fingerprint identification systems, manual metal detectors and access control systems.
DELIVERY OF THE SPANISH FLAG TO THE NATIONAL POLICE
Before the visit to the border crossing of El Tarajal, Grande-Marlaska has presided in the Plaza de Armas of Ceuta the delivery of the flag of Spain by the autonomous city to the Superior Police Headquarters of Ceuta, on the occasion of the bicentenary of the National Police.
The event was also attended by the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivir, in addition to the delegate of the Government in the autonomous city, the director general of Police, and Rosa de Castro, judge of Section VI of the Provincial High Court of Cadiz, who participated as godmother of the flag.
The minister thanked the offer of the city of Ceuta and the work of the National Police agents who have been recognized with this gesture their daily effort in the autonomous city. “Ceuta stands out for its multiculturalism, but above all because coexistence always prevails in the face of difficulties, thanks to the efforts of many institutions, including the National Police,” said Grande-Marlaska during his speech.
The minister praised the public service vocation of the national police, “who put service by and for others as a priority, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding the fundamental rights and public freedoms of all citizens.”
In his words he has also had an express mention “of the extraordinary effort” demanded in the summer months by Operation Strait Pass, “a challenge of preparation, prevention and responsiveness” to make possible a massive movement of people and vehicles between two continents.
“The flag we give to this Headquarters is the recognition of the merit of the policemen who serve here and also of the policemen who preceded you. To all of them, to their families, our homage, all our respect and affection,” the minister concluded.