Every port, airport and land border must install the new technology before the system launches on November 10
Non-EU travellers are gearing up for the launch of the new Entry-Exit System (EES), which is due to come into force on November 10. But are Schengen countries ready for them?
There is some apprehension about Europe’s new digital border system, which has been repeatedly postponed. Scanners needed to implement the system are gradually appearing at airports across the EU, and checkpoints have been set up at ports and train stations.
Millions of euros have been spent preparing for the new checkpoints, which will record the biometric data of non-EU passengers as they enter and leave the Schengen area. Tourists have been warned of potential delays and queues at checkpoints when the system launches.
What is the UK doing to prepare?
The UK is likely to be hardest hit by the changes, with travellers forced to jump through hoops to visit the EU. While airport checks will be carried out on arrival in EU countries, train, car and ferry checks will be carried out before departure from the UK.
The UK government is working to reduce queues and disruption. This week it announced £10.5m (€12.5m) of funding to support preparations at the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel at Folkestone and London’s St Pancras train station, where Eurostar departs.
This money will be used to implement the technology and processes needed to make the process as seamless as possible, including the creation of a dedicated processing site at the Port of Dover and the installation of additional self-service kiosks for Eurotunnel and Eurostar passengers.
British travellers will be able to register at one of the kiosks, where they will have their fingerprints and photographs taken. The UK government says the funding will also go towards “undertaking rigorous testing to reduce the risk of blockages” and supporting the recruitment and training of staff to help ensure the system runs smoothly.
“No one wants to see long queues”
The UK government says the funding will help minimise disruption to British travellers and ensure passenger registration starts smoothly. “No one wants to see long queues at our ports. We are providing this funding to ensure our borders are as prepared as possible for the upcoming change, despite the EES being an EU initiative,” said Lilian Greenwood, UK Minister for the Future of Roads.
“Since we have been in government, we have reviewed the plans and supported ports closely to ensure they have the right processes in place so that EES registration can be seamless and queuing times are kept to a minimum,” Greenwood said. The government says the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar are “on track for a smooth transition ahead of implementation later in the year”.
Despite concerns raised earlier this year, all three ports now paint a rosier picture of the implementation of the EES. “Eurostar will be fully prepared and compliant by November. It will ensure a smooth transition for all our passengers,” said Simon Lejeune, Eurostar’s head of safety and stations.
Yann Leriche, chief executive of Getlink, the company that operates Eurotunnel, adds that thanks to two years of preparation and £70m (€83m) of investment, “when the new legislation is introduced, people will be travelling through the Channel Tunnel as easily as they do today”.
The European Commission stresses that all member states are ready for the changes. “At every single airport, at every single port and at every single access road to Europe, we will have digital border controls, all connected and working at the same time,” said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson on 16 August.
Delays inevitable when launching the EES?
Despite these preparations, UK travel agents remain skeptical about the launch of the EES. Lack of awareness among travellers and varying levels of preparation at different airports could cause “long queues, chaos and confusion”, warned travel association AITO.
The association called for a longer transition period and for checks to be relaxed if waiting times were very long. In July, however, the European Commission confirmed to Euronews Travel that “all travellers subject to the EES will be registered in the system at all border crossings from day one”, adding that it had provided all EU member states with the “necessary tools to ensure a smooth flow of traffic”.
A mobile application will be available in some countries that will allow passengers to pre-register their details before travelling, but this is voluntary. Concerns have also been raised that the launch of the EES will clash with the phased introduction of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-free travellers, which began in May.
The introduction of the ETIAS travel scheme in the first half of 2025, which will require non-EU visa-exempt travellers to obtain a €7 electronic travel authorisation, is expected to further complicate travel.
This article is originally published on it.euronews.com
