Lithuania Confirms Readiness for November 2024 Launch of EU Entry/Exit System

The Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed that the country is fully prepared for the launch of the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES), scheduled for November 10, 2024. According to the Ministry, Lithuania has already completed all the necessary technical requirements and is currently undergoing the testing phase, ensuring the system will be ready to go live in three months without any anticipated issues.

In a statement, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania noted, "Currently, the European Commission has set a deadline for launching the system – November 10, 2024. Lithuania has already fulfilled all technical requirements, the system is being tested."

Deputy Minister of Interior Arnoldas Abramavičius, during a meeting with the Ambassador of the UK to Lithuania, Brian Olley, commented on the benefits of the EES, stating that its implementation will streamline the entry and exit process for all citizens of non-EU countries entering the bloc. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation to ensure that foreign travelers do not encounter any difficulties when entering the EU. "The implementation of the system is important for citizens of third countries travelling to and from the European Union. Therefore, it requires our careful preparation and the cooperation of the interested parties," Abramavičius remarked.

To prepare travelers for the upcoming changes, Lithuania’s Border Guard Service will initiate an information campaign in September to ensure that everyone is aware of the new rules that will apply once the EES is in place.

The EES will bring significant changes to how foreigners enter the Schengen Area. Once implemented, all citizens of non-EU countries will be required to register in the system, replacing the current manual passport stamping process. This system aims to improve the detection of those overstaying in the zone, which has been a challenge with the traditional method.

Starting November 10, all foreigners, regardless of their visa requirements, will need to register upon entering the Schengen Area. The registration process will require individuals to provide personal and travel document information, along with their biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints. This data will be securely stored in a database for three years, meaning that foreigners will not need to go through the registration process multiple times within this period.

While the new system may cause initial delays due to the time required for registration, it is expected that travel to and from the bloc will become smoother in the long run, with a reduction in long queues at the borders once most travelers have completed the process.

By fLEXI tEAM