Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, Simon Calder.
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Today it is seven weeks since the EU entry-exit system was due to be 100 per cent complete in every Schengen area nation – with entries and exits by “third-country nationals” such as UK citizens recorded on a central database. This digital border scheme involves the collection of fingerprints and facial biometrics.
But there have been, to put it politely, significant teething problems. The rollout has proved extremely inconsistent and has triggered multiple problems: from more than 100 passengers being left behind at Milan Linate airport due to long delays at passport control, to gridlock in Dover last weekend as the May half-term holiday got underway.
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The long-standing plan is for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) to be launched six months after the successful rollout of EES. The European Commission still insists: “Etias will start operations in the last quarter of 2026.”
The typical British traveller cannot be blamed for feeling befuddled by the bureaucracy. To try to answer your pressing questions on travel to Europe, whether this summer or next winter, I will host an Ask Me Anything on EU red tape from 1pm to 2pm today, Friday 29 May.
Submit your question and join me below:
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