The smart border between Morocco and Ceuta is now expected to open in the first quarter of 2025, according to information from the Government Delegation in the autonomous city. The delay is not due to the progress of construction work but rather to factors outside Ceuta's control, the Spanish news agency EFE reported on Sunday. Initially scheduled for November 2024, the project was postponed following the European Union's decision to synchronize the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) across all member states. The EES aims to modernize the management of non-EU travelers by recording their names, biometric data, and entry and exit details. The European Commission revealed that several countries were not prepared for implementation. In Ceuta's case, however, all necessary work on the Tarajal border had been completed within the expected timeframe. Efforts to install biometric systems and control modules at the Tarajal border were accelerated after delays during the summer caused by Operation Crossing the Straits (OPE). The upgrades included advanced facial recognition systems and biometric scanners, designed to modernize one of the most heavily trafficked border crossings between Europe and North Africa.
