The Home Office has welcomed a European plan to phase in the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), with contingencies to deal with any long queues at the border.
A European Commission statement on Thursday (December 5), said the proposal “foresees a progressive start of operations of the EES over a period of six months”.
No date has been set for the implementation of the much-delayed scheme although the official EU website says it will start in 2025.
Seema Malhotra MP, Home Office minister for migration and citizenship, told a House of Lords committee on Thursday: “No date has been set, and that continues to be a point of discussion.
“There is, I would suggest, some sort of reading between the lines and probably some assumption, that this could be in around another six months’ time that there is a start but we don’t know that for sure.”
She welcomed the plan for legislation “which was the missing piece last time, to allow a phasing in, rather than a big bang approach to implementation”.
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The minister also welcomed the plan’s flexibility, with member states being allowed to start with EES for at least 10% of border crossings and reaching full registration of all individuals by the end of the six -month period.
“[That] will mean that you can build that capability at the borders without having a backlog,” she said.
“What is important is that we consider the balance of border security alongside border fluidity, and – for us – a key objective of minimising the disruption to the travel of British travellers abroad.”
She said discussions will continue about the implementation process and how it affects entry points such as Dover, Folkstone and St Pancras station in London.
The minister commended the work done at Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras, adding: “They should be congratulated for being as ready as possible, should the ‘go live’ have gone ahead in November with mitigations and contingencies that would have been in place.”
Another factor to consider is the expansion of the UK’s Electric Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which will be introduced for EU citizens in March, becoming mandatory in early April.
“Based on last week’s extension of the scheme, there doesn’t seem to be any reason why we should change that,” she told the House of Lords justice and home affairs committee.
“Communications are out there about the rollout to the EU.”
She also commented on concerns about the ETA and the Common Travel Area deal in that allows free movement of people between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“There can’t be different rules for Northern Ireland and for the rest of the UK. ETAs will help enhance security for the whole of Ireland,” she said.
“We are working closely with the tourism sector, both north and south of the border, to ensure that the ETA requirement is communicated across a wide range of channels.”
Malhotra noted that a traveller who was visiting Dublin who then wanted to head to Belfast, for example, could apply for an ETA in “a matter of minutes”.
She also addressed the issue of youth mobility, saying: “The European Commission has not formally approached the UK to consider a new European youth mobility scheme.
“I have read the speculations in the press and it is important to say that the government will look at proposals on a range of issues, but we won’t be returning to free movement.”
She said there are bilateral schemes, such as an agreement with Australia, adding: “Each youth mobility scheme has been subject to a bilateral, reciprocal arrangement that’s been designed to allow for that cultural exchange, and not intended as route to dealing with labour shortages.”