Spain Inaugurates Entry/Exit System at Melilla-Morocco Border

The Spanish Minister of Internal Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has inaugurated the EU’s new smart border system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), in Melilla.

By inaugurating the EES, Minister Grande-Marlaska showed that Melilla is ready to implement automated checks once the system is launched EU-wide, Schengen.News reports. 

The EES is expected to be implemented by the end of this year. However, in order not to leave all the work for the last minute, Spain inaugurated the system at the Melilla-Morocco, demonstrating that the country is ready for the new changes to come. 

During the inauguration, Minister Grande-Marlaska presented the system which has cost Spain around €11 million, and also spoke to the reporters. 

He said that the inauguration day is important because they are able to see the work completed. The same stressed that the Spanish government is committed to ensuring that the system will work effectively once it is launched. 

What Will Change at Melilla-Morocco Border Once EES Is Launched? 
The EES is an automated system that will replace manual passport stamping and modernise border controls. 

Once the system is launched, those crossing all non-EU nationals crossing the Melilla-Morocco border to enter the Spanish territory will need to register into the new system regardless of whether they are permitted visa-free entry into the Schengen Area or not.

During the registration process, non-EU nationals will need to provide their biometric information, including facial images and their fingerprints, as well as other personal information. 

This data will then be stored in a safe database for a period of three years. This means that once non-EU nationals complete their registration, they will no longer need to undergo this procedure until they have to update their data after three years. They will only need to undergo verification when entering the bloc after completing their registration, which will take less time. 

What Is the Aim of EES? 
By introducing the EES, the bloc aims to keep track of all non-EU nationals entering and leaving its territory. The new system will record the entry and exit information of all foreign nationals, thus signalling when someone has overstayed in the EU. 

The aim of the EES is also to prevent irregular migration, to identify people who are using fake identities, and to contribute to a smoother travel process, among others. 

Once the system is launched, it is expected that around 700 million non-EU travellers to the EU will be affected each year.

Source: https://schengen.news/spain-inaugurates-entry-exit-system-at-melilla-morocco-border/