EU delays (again) new electronic system for border checks

The European Commission has decided to delay the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the bloc’s automated registry for short-stay travellers that was expected to come into force on 10 November.

The announcement was made by Ylva Johansson, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, at the end of a meeting of EU interior ministers on Thursday where the issue was discussed.

“10th of November is no longer on the table,” Johansson told reporters, noting that Germany, France and the Netherlands had declared their unreadiness.

“I hope we can start as soon as possible but there’s no new timeline so far. This also depends on the legal assessment that we will do and we’re working on it right now.”

Johannson spoke of “some concerns when it comes to the resilience of the system.”

As an alternative, she said, the EU could introduce the EES in a phased-in manner “with a little step by step going into the system, not a Big Bang of all border crossing points at the same time.”

However, that approach is not foreseen under the current regulation and “targeted amendments” to the legal text would be required to make it happen.

At any rate, she stressed, the gradual introduction would not start on 10 November.

What is the Entry/Exit System?

The EES is a comprehensive reform that dates back to 2016 and had been repeatedly delayed. Its main purpose is to modernise checks at the EU’s external borders and replace the traditional physical stamping of passports.

It will apply to non-EU citizens who come to the bloc for visits, holidays or business trips and stay for a total duration of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Once the system goes live, visitors will have to provide their passports on arrival, alongside having a photo of their face taken and their fingerprints scanned electronically.

All entries and exits from the passport-free Schengen Area will be recorded.

The collection of biometric data and the sharing of information in real time are meant to help authorities crack down on those who overstay their short-term visas and commit identity fraud.

All member states, except Cyprus and Ireland, and four Schengen-associate countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will take part in the scheme.

Passports in Cyprus and Ireland will continue to be stamped manually.