UK travellers to Europe remain largely unaware of the likely disruption and delays at the border when the EU launches its delayed biometric Entry/Exit System (EES).
That is according to local government and industry leaders who warned last week of a “communications problem”.
Councillor Kevin Mills, leader of Dover District Council, told the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee: “Without EES we see Dover gridlocked several times a year. Add EES and it will be gridlock on steroids.”
He noted the Department for Transport (DfT) “is saying to expect delays of up to 14 hours” and added: “There is a communications problem with the DfT. We’ve had no interaction at all with them, no dialogue.”
Mills argued: “We think we can deal with the coaches. We don’t think there will be a problem with freight, which is mostly EU. But cars we have a problem with. The key question is what will happen with cars.
“We’re well aware of the situation. I’m not sure a lot of travellers are.”
John Keefe, chief corporate and public affairs officer of Getlink Group which operates Eurotunnel, told the committee a detailed communications plan was promised ahead of the introduction of EES but “has not been launched”.
That meant “a coherent communications plan has not been possible”, he said, adding: “This is an EU project. We’re frustrated at being unable to communicate in the UK.”
Gareth Williams, general secretary and chief strategic partnerships officer at Eurostar, said: “The message in the summer was ‘We need to get through the summer getaway and the Olympics, but after that the communications [about EES] will be cranked up’. It didn’t happen.
“As soon as we were through the Olympics, it was clear there would be a delay.”
The EU had targeted November 10 as the launch date for EES, but confirmed a postponement earlier this month after member states France, Germany and the Netherlands made clear the technology would not be ready, having not been sufficiently tested.
A promised communications campaign in advance of a launch has not yet materialised.
Williams argued: “Communications are essential. We’ve probably done as much as we can to mitigate the effects [of launching EES]. We do regular customer surveys and see increased awareness, but it remains relatively low.
“The responsibility lies with the EU but those most affected will be UK travellers.”
He said: “We’ve developed communications based on what we learned communicating during Covid. But there is no point pressing ‘Go’ on them until we can communicate with certainty.”