Key questions remain unanswered about European Commission plans for a phased introduction of the digital Entry/Exit System (EES) which is due to replace passport checks at EU borders.
The EES was previously scheduled for a ‘big bang’ launch in November, but this was postponed in October due to concerns among member states – notably Germany and France – that the technology was not sufficiently tested and robust.
The phased introduction will be a relief to the sector as widespread delays were expected as non-EU passengers will have to register their biometric data – face and fingerprints – on first entry to the EU.
However, member states still have to accept the proposal for a phased launch and it’s unclear whether the technology has been fully tested in the meantime.
The start date won’t be set until there is sign up from all governments.
The EC envisages only a six-month transition from the initial launch to wholesale adoption, despite the UK opting for an 18-month implementation period for its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system – launched in October 2023 and which goes fully live next April.
In a statement on the EES launch on December 5, the EC said all member states would start operating the system from day one, but border authorities will progressively register the data of non-EU nationals “starting with at least 10% of border crossings and reaching full registration by the end of the six months”.
It’s unclear whether this deadline will be achievable if the system enters use through the summer peak.
EU border officials will also continue to stamp passports at borders during this period, and travellers may be confused about the requirements and whether or not they need to provide biometric information if the system is only in partial operation and applies at some borders and not others.
There is also no indication of when a long-promised app allowing partial registration in advance will come into use.
The app requires approval by individual member states, meaning it may not be universally accepted. The app also cannot register fingerprints, so every passenger will have these taken at the border – a challenge at border crossings for cars and coaches at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone.
The EC has promised “an information campaign prior to the start of operations” but there is no indication of how far in advance this will commence.
The Commission had previously suggested a three-month lead-in on communications ahead of launching the EES.
The EC has at least retained the option to temporarily suspend the EES “in exceptional circumstances, to tackle excessive waiting times at borders”. This was part of the original launch plan and will almost certainly be required if the system is launched or ramped up close to or during the peak holiday season.
There remains concern that the EES may be launched around the time the UK’s ETA system enters full operation in April, which could threaten delays at either end of channel crossings.