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Travel Turmoil: EU’s Border System Setback Sparks Industry Relief

by Alice
ETA

The travel industry is grappling with uncertainty after the recent postponement of the EU’s Exit-Entry System (EES), initially set to launch on November 10. Stakeholders are calling for clear guidelines from the European Commission to facilitate preparations, particularly regarding the phased rollout of the EES.

Gareth Williams, general secretary of Eurostar, reported positive collaboration between the UK Home Office and the French Interior Ministry. However, he noted that communication with the European Union and its key IT agency, EU-LISA, has been “challenging.” “If they do not have certainty themselves and do not have a decision to work with, there is nothing they can communicate,” he stated, as reported by Connexion France.

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The delay stems from several EU countries informing the European Commission that they would not be prepared for implementation. A significant concern was the instability and functionality of the EES central computer system, which is managed by EU-LISA. Williams explained, “What lies behind the latest delay is the weakness of the test environment with the EU systems, which did not give the member states the kind of confidence necessary for reliable communication and operation.”

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Williams advocated for a phased approach to the EES, suggesting that the system should initially enroll 5 to 10 percent of travelers. This gradual rollout would provide an opportunity to refine the system and its procedures, minimizing disruptions during peak travel seasons.

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John Keefe, chief corporate and public affairs officer at Getlink Group, expressed confidence that the EU would avoid a simultaneous launch across all entry points. Instead, he anticipates that the EES may first be introduced at smaller ports, with biometric data capture initially focusing on facial recognition. Getlink operates the Eurotunnel.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has met with EU-LISA to explore possible pathways forward, including the feasibility of implementing the EES at select border points while delaying others. Reports indicate that the Commission has revised its EES instructions, allowing border authorities to choose between scanning fingerprints or taking a passenger’s photo during crossings.

Both Getlink and Eurostar have stated their readiness for the EES’s November rollout. However, the postponement has elicited relief from many border crossings. The Port of Dover Council welcomed the delay, warning that “complete and utter carnage” would have ensued had the system been implemented as scheduled. In France, the ferry port operator Ports de Normandie asserted that it would not be “technically possible” to apply the system’s regulations in many locations.

The EES will require non-EU citizens to provide fingerprint and facial biometrics during their first crossing of Schengen borders, as well as scan their passports at self-service kiosks for future crossings. Following the EES, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to be introduced.

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