The introduction of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System has been postponed again, following concerns about its rollout in various member nations.
What is EES again?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in the pipeline since 2022, and numerous implementation dates have come and gone. Intended to modernise EU border security and eradicate passport stamping, the new regime will require non-EU or so-called “third country” citizens, including people from the UK, to register photographic and biometric data at any EU checkpoint at road borders, airports, ports, train stations – including Eurostar services – before they can gain entry to the bloc.
Linked to passport details, the data will be recorded as a Schengen Area entry, valid for visits, holidays, and business trips of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Authorities across the bloc will share and use the data to monitor identity fraud and people who outstay their welcome.
But with major EU stakeholders France, Germany and the Netherlands all expressing unreadiness, now EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson has confirmed that the fabled system launch is being pushed back again because “It’s clear that we’re not going to be ready for the 10 November. We will be going for a phased approach, step by step.”
Next steps
One of those steps will presumably include some live testing of the software on UK border systems, which sources have told the BBC had still not yet occurred, with less than a month to go before the now-defunct deadline.
Internal EU performance issues must also be resolved it appears, after German interior ministry spokesperson told Reuters the problem is that the EU agency responsible, EU-Lisa, has not yet made EES stable enough.
While the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council are set to reconvene next week to discuss the fate of EES, travel sector representatives have responded positively to the decision to delay the go-ahead.
Relief and valuable extra time
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said the news would make the industry emit “a huge sigh of relief” and alleviate the “significant concern” about a system that would “inevitably have caused delay and setbacks”.
Similarly, Christina Brazier, head of industry affairs for the Association of Independent Tour Operators (Aito), said that “in light of the many unresolved questions and concerns” the delay would provide “valuable time in which to prepare”.
However, both bodies, plus ABTA, noted the hard work that had already gone into getting ready for EES and criticised the way the industry and consumers had been “left in limbo.” Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, said: “We do still need urgent confirmation and clarification on the next steps of EES; it’s difficult to talk to a customer about a new system without knowing if it will actually be in place for their trip.”
