Today, the Entry Exit System (EES), the new European border control system for the automatic monitoring of the crossing of Member States' borders with third countries, has come into operation and will allow automated monitoring of the entry and exit of third-country nationals into and out of the Schengen area.
The Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, has highlighted that this is a “guarantee system, which will provide more security to the population but also improves the control mechanisms for the National Police itself, so that they can carry out their functions at the border.”
The highest representative of the Government of Spain in our city, who recalled that Melilla has been “one of the pioneering cities in being prepared” for the implementation of this system, explained that for the activation of this system it had to take place simultaneously in all Member States of the European Union.
Moh explained that the ESS represents a qualitative leap in border control and security, since “everything is automated” and “all management is computerized”. This, he said, will strengthen security and speed up procedures.
The head of the Government Delegation wanted to highlight “the significant investment of the Government of Spain, of almost 10 million euros, to modernize the border”. This investment, he explained, has a direct impact on improving the facilities and working conditions of the State Security Forces and Corps, especially the National Police and the Civil Guard.
He also highlighted the previous work that has made this implementation possible, including the specialized training that agents have received. In addition, he has specified that this system will not only cover the land border crossing, but also the port and the airport of Melilla.
“I would like to highlight the modernization of the facilities and, above all, the work of our police, our Civil Guard and all the State Security Forces, which make it possible for this system to work from today,” he concluded.
Increased security
The acting Chief of Police, José Ángel Sanz, for his part, has pointed out that this new system “aims, above all, to strengthen security in the entry into what are the external borders and Schengen within the European Union”. In addition, he recalled that in a second phase a prior system will be implemented for travelers from countries without visa agreement, who must register their data before arriving in Spain.
Sanz stressed that the ESS allows to verify “100% that the person who enters through the border, both for the documentation he carries and for his biometric data -facial and fingerprint-, is that person”. In this way, the controls carried out by the agents of the National Police are reinforced by computerized systems capable of capturing and crossing in real time the passport data with the biometrics of the traveler.
“Once registered, for all the times they access, they will be recognized and therefore that is what 100% certifies that the person who enters is the one who claims to be. This exponentially increases the security of our borders, not only in Spain, but at a European level,” said the head of Melilla’s Senior Headquarters, who added that in the future the system will continue to incorporate technological improvements.
The ESS applies to both pedestrian traffic and vehicles. For the latter, the agents use electronic tablets that allow the facial image and fingerprints of the occupants to be captured in an agile way, thus reinforcing the traceability of each access.
Sanz stressed that “everything that is to include a computerized system where it is certified that the person who accesses is that person, avoids any type of counterfeiting, any type of illegal access to the Spanish borders.”
Thus, he has indicated that this tool represents a crucial advance in the fight against organized crime, serious crimes and terrorism, “exponentially increasing security at our borders.”