Entry/Exit System Launch May Face Another Delay as France, Germany, and the Netherlands Report Unpreparedness

The launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES) in the European Union may face yet another postponement, as three EU countries—France, Germany, and the Netherlands—have indicated that they are not ready for its scheduled implementation in early November.

The EES, which aims to introduce fingerprint and facial recognition checks at EU ports and airports, is currently slated to come into effect on November 10.

However, as reported by The Guardian, these three nations have sent a letter to EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, stating that they will not be prepared to implement the system by the deadline. This has raised concerns over whether the EES will indeed be launched in November or face yet another delay.

The introduction of the EES has already been postponed twice. Initially set for last summer, the system's launch was delayed due to concerns raised by France regarding the potential impact on major events such as the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics. As a result, the launch was rescheduled for October 6, 2024. Subsequently, the date was pushed back to November 10 due to fears of long delays and travel disruptions.

Despite their current unpreparedness, France, Germany, and the Netherlands remain supportive of the EES. The countries believe that the system will improve security while also speeding up passport checks for non-EU citizens entering the European Union.

The EES is an automated IT system designed to register all non-EU citizens entering the EU for short stays, regardless of whether they are eligible for visa-free entry. Travellers will be required to provide personal information, including the data listed in their travel documents, as well as fingerprints and facial images. This information will then be stored in a secure database for three years and will be used to log the dates and locations of entry and exit from the EU.

The primary objectives of the EES are to detect overstayers, prevent irregular migration, identify individuals using fake identities, and streamline the management of migration flows. Once the system is operational, it is expected to affect around 700 million people travelling to the EU annually.

By fLEXI tEAM