Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis has warned that Andy Burnham must push for the EU's "broken" Entry/Exit System (EES) to be paused over the school summer holidays, saying British passengers should not be punished by the widespread disruption caused by the new border control system.
The system, which requires non-Schengen Area travellers to supply biometric data at borders in 29 European countries, has caused widespread queues since becoming fully operational in April.
The Liberal Democrat MP stressed: "Passengers travelling to Europe shouldn't be punished by a broken, malfunctioning border system that is entirely out of their hands."
Government urged to take firmer stance
She added: "I have twice asked the government to explain how they are improving the situation, and both times I have been told only that they are working to 'encourage' the European Commission and member states to minimise delays."
"The government needs to take a far firmer stance with European counterparts, and press them, collectively, to suspend EES until at least September."
Disruption and warnings
Some destinations, such as Greece, have suspended the checks altogether in a bid to attract British travellers. Several airlines have asked passengers to arrive three hours before their flights to allow for extra processing time, and some travellers have missed flights because of the queues.
Last week, Europe's airport trade body warned that "unacceptable" queues triggered by the system were deterring travellers, as the pace of traveller numbers "markedly" slowed down in the second quarter of this year. ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said: "Looking ahead, fixing the Schengen Entry-Exit System must be Europe's immediate priority."
"Long, unpredictable and unacceptable waiting times at border control have started acting as a deterrent to travel – and undermine the standing and reputation of Europe as an efficient and welcoming destination," reports Travel Weekly. ACI Europe figures showed a growth in passenger numbers of 4.3% in the first three months of 2026, followed by just 1.3% in the second quarter.
How the Entry/Exit System works
The Entry/Exit System replaced manual passport stamps with an automated digital system. It records biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images, making it easier to spot overstayers in the Schengen Area, which is capped at 90 days within an 180-day period for people without a visa.
