On Wednesday, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska inaugurated Melilla's new «smart border», the Entry/Exit System (EES), heralding a significant advancement in border control technology. Local media report that the project, which cost 12 million euros, promises to streamline and secure the crossing process. Grande-Marlaska announced that the system would be operational by October, aligning with its implementation across the European Union's Schengen area. He assured that Melilla is prepared to activate these measures once the ongoing border enhancements with Morocco are finalized. The EES employs sophisticated technology, automatically verifying travel documents and utilizing fingerprint and facial biometrics to authenticate travelers' identities. During a press briefing at the Beni Ansar crossing, the minister expressed his satisfaction with the project's completion, highlighting it as a key government initiative aimed at enhancing border efficiency and security. Grande-Marlaska commended the collaborative efforts between Spain and Morocco, describing the bilateral relations as «exceptional». He emphasized the friendly and brotherly ties between the two countries, acknowledging Morocco's crucial role in security matters, particularly in combating terrorism, organized crime, and irregular migration. However, the initiative faced criticism from Miguel Tellado, the Popular Party's parliamentary group spokesman. He questioned the minister's positive remarks about Morocco, pointing out that customs in Ceuta and Melilla remain «closed» over two years after the Spanish-Moroccan agreement to reopen them. At a Melilla press conference alongside city president Juan Jose Imbroda, Tellado challenged Grande-Marlaska's depiction of Morocco as a «strategic partner, a friendly country, a brotherly country». «It seems that this is not true», he argued, asserting that «friendly countries treat each other differently than Morocco treats Spain». He further criticized the relationship between the Sanchez government and Morocco, claiming it lacks «the principle of equality and reciprocity».
