Nine Countries Ask the EU to Postpone the Introduction of Biometric Border Checks – The Guardian
Nine European Union countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, have appealed to Brussels for additional time to fully implement the Entry/Exit System (EES).
The countries are seeking to postpone the mandatory collection of fingerprints and facial scans for non-EU citizens to avoid long lines at busy airports and border crossings.
The full launch of the biometric control system, originally scheduled for September 6, has been repeatedly postponed due to technical difficulties and high passenger traffic. Meanwhile, Spain is fully implementing the EES, and in Brussels, the system is considered a success, as it has already recorded approximately 200 million entries and allowed for the denial of entry to 70,000 people, including those who overstayed their visas and individuals with forged documents. Currently, difficulties with setting up the process remain at only 12 of 1,500 border crossing points, and EU sources have confirmed that they will temporarily refrain from holding countries accountable that have not yet established biometric controls.
This was reported by The Guardian.
British travelers are reporting long lines, technical glitches, and confusion while passing through the EU’s new digital entry-exit system (EES) in the Schengen Area. The system requires non-EU citizens to register, have their photo taken, and provide fingerprints upon entry and exit.
The Irish airline Ryanair has warned passengers of possible long lines at passport control at 16 popular European airports due to the implementation of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
