Nine EU countries delay EES border controls at airports

Nine EU countries are delaying EES border controls at airports

The EU's entry and exit system was due to come fully into effect across the bloc on September 6. Photo: Jc Milhet/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images 

Nine European countries, including France, Greece, Portugal, and Italy, have postponed the full rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). They have asked Brussels for more time to implement fingerprint and facial recognition checks at airports and the busiest border crossings. Read the original Guardian article .

The EES system aims to register non-European travelers entering and leaving the Schengen Area. Adopted in 2017 and officially launched last October, it was supposed to be fully operational in April, before being delayed again due to initial technical and operational issues. Learn more about the changes to the EES system .

France, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium are requesting an extension. Spain, which also encountered initial difficulties, would implement the system in its entirety. Source: The Guardian .

According to European sources, the system has already recorded approximately 200 million entries and prevented 70,000 people from entering the Schengen Area. Those affected include people without visas, those who have overstayed their authorized period of stay, and those using fake passports or identity documents. Read the full article .

These delays do not affect entire countries. Biometric checks have begun in locations such as the Eurostar terminal in Brussels and the port of Antwerp, while major airports like Frankfurt and Schiphol have already implemented the system. More information on the EES rollout .

Smaller airports remain the main challenge, especially when large numbers of passengers arrive simultaneously and biometric infrastructure is limited. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had already warned of the risk of missed connections, while Ryanair expressed concern about long queues. Read the Guardian's analysis .

For travelers, the message is clear: allow extra time at the airport and check the latest entry requirements before you leave. The "Travel to Europe" pre-authorization app is expected to be rolled out in seven countries, but it is currently only operational in Sweden and Portugal. See the latest EES information .