EU border check system introduction delays again
By DL News
Published
1 min read
Initially planned for November 10, the introduction has been delayed after Germany, France, and the Netherlands reported that their systems were not ready.
The European Union has once more postponed the launch of a biometric system involving fingerprint and facial scans for non-EU citizens at EU borders.
Initially planned for November 10, the introduction has been delayed after Germany, France, and the Netherlands reported that their systems were not ready.
This postponement adds to a series of delays for the Entry Exit System (EES), which was initially scheduled for 2022.
The EES will require non-EU travelers, including UK citizens, to register their biometric data at EU entry points instead of relying on passport stamps. The system aims to create a digital link between passports and biometric data, with travelers able to use handheld devices to submit their details while in vehicles.
The EES will be enforced at road crossings, airports, seaports, train stations like Eurostar, and all other external EU borders.
The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council is set to meet next week to discuss the EES implementation. Sources indicate that the delay was due to the system's instability, which EU-Lisa, the EU agency overseeing it, has yet to resolve. France’s interior ministry emphasized the importance of thorough preparation before the EES goes live.
