The European Union has rejected requests from airports and airlines to suspend the implementation of new fingerprinting and facial recognition border controls, even as officials acknowledge there are '20 difficult spots' facing queue chaos. With only a week before the peak summer holiday season begins, EU officials stated that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is 'not perfect' but that a full suspension is 'not needed' and 'not possible'.
How the EES System Works
Under the EES, non-EU passengers must register fingerprints and facial images the first time they enter the Schengen zone. Subsequently, their biometrics are verified each time they leave and re-enter the zone. The system was designed to address weaknesses in border controls exposed by the 2015 and 2016 terror attacks in Brussels and Paris.
Industry Concerns and Delays
Airlines, airport representatives, and the International Air Transport Association (Iata) have demanded a suspension of the new controls until next summer, citing fears of chaos in holiday hotspots. Iata reported that passengers are experiencing 'delays and missed connections' in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Belgium. Ryanair warned of 'queue chaos' at airports including Málaga, Alicante, and Palma.
However, EU officials argue that suspending the system in some countries but not others would lead to 'the unfortunate situation of travellers stranded at border crossings.' For example, a passenger from Britain entering the Schengen area at a border with operational EES but leaving via a border without it could be wrongly registered as overstaying the 90-day travel allowance in any 180-day period, risking future entry refusal.
Current Implementation Status
Out of 1,500 border crossing points, only 20 are considered 'difficult spots.' Officials said they would pressure responsible member states to ease the situation. One small regional airport saw 3,000 passengers arrive in one hour but had only four booths to check biometrics, though this was only a problem 'two or three months a year' as it is a holiday destination. Lisbon has eased queues by deploying extra workers, and 50 new Frontex border staff are being added at Brussels airport.
'I think we have recurrent progressive improvements everywhere,' an EU official added.
System Performance and Refusals
Since its introduction last October, the EES has captured 110 million journeys in and out of the Schengen area and refused entry to about 44,500 people. These include passengers trying to re-enter the bloc illegally due to overstaying visitor allowances or using second passports or false documents. The biggest reason for refusal was 'no appropriate justification of visit or stay,' followed by overstaying (about 9,000 cases). More than 1,000 people were stopped for being 'considered a threat to internal security,' and 300 were caught using false passports or travel documents.
Technical Issues and Future Plans
Issues with French technology have delayed full implementation at Eurotunnel, which has invested £80 million in infrastructure not yet fully operational. A time-saving mobile app developed by Frontex is only fully operational in Sweden and partly in Portugal. The EU is also reportedly delaying the introduction of a separate pre-authorisation visa system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), similar to the US Esta system.
