EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit scheme could be pushed back further

Thursday marks a month before the EU’s post-Brexit Entry/Exit System (EES) was due to launch.

Slated to come into force on 10 November, after countless delays, new reports suggest that it may be pushed back yet again.

Back in August, the EU’s Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, appeared to confirm that the border checks would finally come into force. 

“The moment is finally there. There may have been times you believed it will never happen,” Johansson declared triumphantly, “But it’s going to happen. Everything is coming together. We’re in the final testing phase. There is a real momentum now. Carriers, operators, train stations, airports, everyone is getting ready for the big day.”

But was everybody really getting ready? According to recent reports, multiple European countries have come forward to say their borders will not be ready, appealing for more time.

It could be that Johansson foresaw further delays – she said that she was putting in place a contingency plan, allowing for the implementation of EES one week later, on 17 November.

Whether the “official” launch date is on the 10th or the 17th, it still remains unclear whether it will actually go ahead. 

In fact, diplomats in Brussels are said to be becoming increasingly sceptical about a deadline on either of those dates November. In recent days, they have indicated that the introduction of the system will likely be delayed once more, apparently due to issues related to IT infrastructure.

Euronews Travel understands that ministers in the EU are expected to discuss the future of the EES during a meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday.

What is behind the delay of the EU’s EES scheme?

In August, Johansson gave member states of the European Union until 5 September to provide the required declaration on their state of readiness.

Reports suggest that major travel hubs France, Germany and the Netherlands told the Commission that they would not be ready. Officials in those nations raised concerns about practical testing of the system in the field and whether the November launch date was feasible. 

In September, sources in the UK said transport operators there were told by government officials to expect further delays.

Set to be one of the biggest changes for UK and other non-Schengen passport holders travelling to EU countries in decades, the EES was first slated to launch in 2022. 

Since then, it’s faced numerous setbacks, blamed variously on IT issues and delays in installing automated barriers which will be required at all international land, maritime and air borders in the Schengen Area ahead of the launch. Some airports have said they needed to reinforce their floors to take the weight of the scanners passengers will have to pass through.

The EES, which will require non-EU citizens to have their fingerprints or photos taken before entering the Schengen area, was slated to be introduced last summer, after the delay from 2022.

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France, though, called for a halt, expressing concerns that it might have a negative impact on the Rugby World Cup last autumn and the Paris Olympics this summer. 

Officials listened to their concerns and rescheduled it for 6 October, but that was put on hold too, apparently due to concerns that congestion could disrupt school holiday visits into the EU from the UK and other non-EU countries.

France appears to remain concerned even now, with a specific focus on the port of Dover, where British and French border controls take place.

One source in France told the UK’s Guardian newspaper that a so-called “big bang” launch on 10 November is not feasible, suggesting that the phasing in of the EES over a year was far preferable. 

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Is the UK ready for the Entry/Exit scheme?

In April, research discovered that almost two thirds of UK adults were unaware of the very existence of EES. Authorities have issues, too. 

The Kent borough that is responsible for the border at Dover has warned of a ‘worst-case scenario’ which could see delays of up to 14 hours affecting freight traffic, car and coach travel when the scheme is launched.

Some 68,000 coaches and 1.6 million cars pass through the port on a yearly basis, and there are concerns the system simply won’t be able to process everybody in a timely manner – although authorities say their new border control plaza will help to alleviate any issues.

While some travel experts say it’s unlikely the European Commission will choose to push the date back even further, to avoid any criticism, the fact that France, Germany and the Netherlands remain ‘unready’ for the changes is concerning. 

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The UK government, though, appears to be remaining positive. 

“We are supporting ports and carriers to make sure they have the right technology and processes in place so EES registration can take place as smoothly as possible, while also working with the European Commission, France and local authorities to ensure we are prepared,” a spokesperson for the Home Office told Euronews Travel. 

The office did confirm, though, that the government is considering all options for contingency planning to reduce the risk of potential disruption from the introduction of the EES and is working at pace to get solutions in place.

They also confirmed they have been working with local authorities in Kent to support scalable plans to manage potential passenger disruption, which could be activated when queues and disruption are most likely. 

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They’ve also announced £10.5m (€12.5m) in extra funding for Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras – some of the UK’s main transport hubs – which will help ensure they have the right technology and processes in place.

What actually is the EES – and which travellers will need to use it?

The Entry/Exit System, when launched, will be an registration system for travellers from the UK and outside the EU travellers who don’t require a visa to enter the bloc.

Each time a traveller makes such a journey, the electronic system will register their name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. 

Every three years, facial scans and fingerprint data will be taken again and will be valid for unlimited trips within that period. 

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The EES will be required when a traveller enters all EU member states, except from Cyprus and Ireland.

Four non-EU countries in the Schengen Area – Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will also be excluded. 

Johansson has said the EES is being introduced to bolster border security and identify travellers who overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Area, currently 90 days within a 180 day period.

“With the EES we will know exactly who enters the Schengen area with a foreign passport,” she said, “We will know if people stay too long, countering irregular migration. And the EES will make it harder for criminals, terrorists or Russian spies to use fake passports thanks to biometric identification, photos and fingerprints.”

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Euronews Travel has approached the office of Ylva Johansson for comment and clarification on a possible delay of the launch date. 

More than half of adults over 45 are unaware of the new entry rules

Amidst all the uncertainty, new research has revealed that over half of UK citizens aged 45 and over are unaware of the EES coming into force – in November, or at a later date. 

Travel insurance provider Staysure discovered that, in addition to a majority of people surveyed not being aware of the EES, some 54 per cent also didn’t realise that British tourists will be required to apply for the 3-year visa when visiting one of the 33 Schengen area countries.

When informed of the requirements to enter the bloc, nearly one-fifth (18 per cent) of those asked said they would be less likely to leave the UK for a holiday. 

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In fact, the survey found that the negativity surrounding the EES may already be colouring travel decisions, with many saying they were rethinking their plans. 

38 per cent said they are now planning a staycation in the UK for the near future at least, rather than jetting off to EU countries. 

“The new entry and exit system could potentially impact travellers when it comes into force in November and possibly put some people off EU travel in the short term, but it is important that travellers are aware of the potential for minor disruptions and plan accordingly,” Simon McCulloch, Chief Commercial Officer at Staysure, told Euronews Travel.

With the actual introduction date of the EES scheme very much up in the air, though, these travellers may be worrying unnecessarily – at least for the time being.

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