The European Commission has acknowledged that the new European Union Entry/Exit System (EES) is generating significant operational difficulties at various border crossings, particularly during the summer months. A Commission spokesman confirmed that Brussels authorities are aware of the implementation challenges and are maintaining constant contact with member states to monitor the situation and develop solutions. Despite these reported issues, the Commission has not announced any suspension of the system.
The EES is designed to electronically record the entry and exit of non-EU citizens, serving as a replacement for traditional passport stamping. During border checks utilizing this new biometric system, traveler data, including fingerprints and facial photographs, is collected. However, the rollout has resulted in substantial queues at airports and border points.
European airline and airport associations have reported instances where waits have reached up to five hours, leading to numerous passengers missing scheduled flights. Consequently, the aviation industry has formally requested that the European Commission authorize member states to temporarily suspend the system when passenger volumes surpass the current capacity of border crossings. Industry stakeholders warn that without additional staffing and measures, the situation could deteriorate further during the peak tourist season in July and August.
Furthermore, carriers like Ryanair have called for a postponement of the full implementation until after the summer period, citing that many airport infrastructures are not yet equipped for the required biometric checks.
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