The European Union's ambitious new border control system, designed to digitally track non-EU travellers, has been hit by substantial delays that could push its implementation into 2025. The Entry/Exit System (EES), which will require British citizens and other third-country nationals to provide fingerprints and facial scans upon entering the bloc, is facing significant technical and logistical hurdles.
This delay offers a temporary reprieve for UK holidaymakers and business travellers, who had been facing the prospect of lengthy new border formalities from this autumn. However, it also prolongs the uncertainty surrounding cross-Channel travel, with major concerns about potential gridlock at critical ports like Dover once the system eventually goes live.
What is the EU's Entry/Exit System?
The EES is an automated IT system that will register the name, type of travel document, and biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) of non-EU nationals each time they cross an external EU border. It will also record the date and place of entry and exit, effectively replacing the manual stamping of passports.
The primary goal is to strengthen border security and more accurately monitor overstays. However, for Britons travelling to the EU, it represents the most tangible change to border processes since Brexit.
Why the Delay?
According to statements from the Estonian government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, the new timeline is "highly likely" to be postponed. The core issue appears to be the immense complexity of rolling out the required hardware and software across hundreds of land, air, and sea borders in a synchronised manner.
European border agency Frontex and the eu-LISA agency, responsible for managing large-scale IT systems, are reportedly struggling to meet the original deadline. The need for seamless integration with existing systems and extensive staff training has proven more challenging than anticipated.
The Looming Challenge for UK Travellers
When the EES is finally implemented, its impact on busy land crossings is expected to be profound. The Port of Dover has repeatedly warned that the additional 90 seconds to two minutes required per passenger to complete biometric checks could lead to queues stretching for miles, particularly during peak holiday periods.
Industry leaders and local officials have called for a coordinated UK-EU approach to manage the flow, suggesting the creation of new kiosk areas or the use of mobile app technology to conduct checks away from the border itself to prevent chaos.
While the delay provides more time for preparation, it underscores the significant operational challenges that lie ahead for post-Brexit travel between Britain and the European Union.
