Travellers to EU face renewed queues as border-check flexibility rules expire
Summary
Travelers entering the European Union may face longer border lines as temporary relaxed rules for a new entry-exit system called EES end on September 6. Some EU countries, including France and Greece, are delaying full biometric checks like fingerprinting due to technical issues or to avoid long queues.Key Facts
- The EU’s new entry-exit system (EES) requires biometric data, such as fingerprints, from non-EU travelers.
- Flexibility to pause biometric checks ended on September 6, but some countries are not fully enforcing the rules yet.
- France is facing technical problems with EES software, delaying biometric checks for travelers crossing from the UK.
- Eurotunnel, Port of Dover, and Eurostar have fingerprinting kiosks that are not operational yet.
- Some border officials, especially in popular tourist countries like Greece, are unofficially exempting UK travelers from checks to prevent long delays.
- Airlines and travel groups want the EU to extend the pause on full EES enforcement to avoid flight disruptions.
- The European Commission is working with member states to fix issues but has not extended the flexibility period officially.
- Airlines say that delays caused by EES problems hurt passengers and damage Europe’s travel reputation.
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