The implementation of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which mandates biometric checks for non-EU travelers entering the Schengen area, is facing delays in several European countries. France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium have all sought additional time to fully roll out the system, citing the challenges of introducing fingerprint and facial recognition technology at busy airports and border crossings.
The EES, officially launched in October of the previous year, aims to strengthen border security by recording the biometric data of travelers. However, various technical and operational hurdles have led to repeated postponements, particularly at major travel hubs. In contrast, Spain has successfully implemented the system after overcoming initial issues.
EU sources report that the EES has already processed approximately 200 million registrations and has stopped around 70,000 individuals from entering the Schengen zone. These include travelers lacking the necessary visas, those who have overstayed their permitted duration, and individuals attempting entry with forged documents.
While biometric checks have commenced at some locations, such as Eurostar terminals in Brussels and Antwerp port, many airports are still in the process of establishing the required facilities. Large international airports like Frankfurt and Schiphol have begun implementing the checks, yet smaller airports continue to struggle with capacity and infrastructure readiness.
Concerns have been raised by the International Air Transport Association and airlines about potential delays and long queues during peak travel times caused by the new system. To mitigate this, a pre-travel application, Travel to Europe, has been introduced. This application allows travelers to submit their passport information and facial images before arriving at the border and is currently operational in Sweden and Portugal, with plans for expansion to other countries.