EU EES rollout risks travel queues

The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System is colliding with the busiest part of the travel calendar. Brussels says the biometric border regime has “broadly worked well” over the summer, but airlines, airports and travel companies say the system is still slowing arrivals and raising the risk of longer queues once temporary relief measures end on September 6. More than 180 million entries and exits have already been registered under EES, with around 60,000 refusals of entry so far, according to a European Commission briefing cited by TTG. The system replaces passport stamping with digital registration for non-EU travelers entering and leaving the Schengen area, including many British visitors on short stays. (ttgmedia.com) ### Why is September 6 such a sensitive date? September 6 matters because that is when the current emergency flexibility is due to expire. The safeguard lets border authorities, in exceptional cases, temporarily suspend collection of fingerprints and facial scans to ease congestion while still registering travelers’ entry and exit. The European Commission has so far given no sign it plans to extend that temporary arrangement. (ttgmedia.com) A Commission spokesperson said on September 1 that EES had “broadly worked well” and said the legislation already contains built-in flexibilities and fallback procedures for exceptional situations. ### Which countries are asking Brussels for more room? (politico.eu) A July 7 joint letter seen by Politico came from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland. The countries told Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner that the first months of operation had exposed “significant difficulties” and asked for the emergency mechanism to remain available beyond September 6. (ttgmedia.com) Euronews and Travel Weekly both reported the same group of nine countries had pushed for continued flexibility as summer queues and operational problems persisted at some crossing points. The governments said they still backed EES but wanted written assurances before the current window closes. ### Why are airports and airlines so worried? (politico.eu) Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe and the International Air Transport Association said in a July open letter that EES had reached a “critical point.” The groups said passengers were waiting up to five hours at passport control and warned of flight delays, missed connections and heavier pressure on frontline staff. (euronews.com) Travel industry groups are also worried about the sales effect. Abta’s Luke Petherbridge told TTG that the emergency measures had helped reduce pressure at airports, but said the industry wanted them available beyond September because EES was not yet “fully and consistently operational across all participating countries.” Travel Weekly reported similar concerns about booking friction for September travel weeks. (aerospaceglobalnews.com) ### Why are British travelers mentioned so often? British travelers are prominent in the discussion because EES applies to non-EU passport holders entering most Schengen countries for short visits. That means UK passengers now face the same digital border process as other third-country nationals, including first-time biometric registration at the external border. The practical effect is not that Britons are being singled out in law, but that they are one of the largest affected traveler groups moving through busy European airports, ports and rail terminals. (ttgmedia.com) Industry coverage has therefore focused heavily on UK holidaymakers and tour operators. ### What is Brussels saying now? The European Commission says the system is delivering security and transparency benefits. (aerospaceglobalnews.com) The Commission spokesperson said EES makes it “more transparent what’s happening at our borders” and that officials remain in “close and constructive contact” with the few member states where adjustments are still needed at certain crossing points. (travelweekly.co.uk) The next test comes on Sunday, September 6, when the temporary summer flexibilities are scheduled to end. Whether Brussels changes course or leaves the current framework in place will determine how much discretion border posts have as September passenger flows continue. (ttgmedia.com)