Key facts
- Europe's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now operational across 29 European countries.
- The system aims to enhance border security by collecting biometric data from non-EU travelers.
- Significant delays are being reported at border controls, with wait times reaching up to five hours during peak periods.
- Industry lobbies estimate these delays could impact 41 million travelers and $45 billion in tourism revenue.
- National capitals are criticized for failing to adequately prepare airports with necessary infrastructure and personnel.
- Frontex, the European border agency, suggests the biometric registration process may take up to two years to stabilize.
Europe's new Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to enhance border security by logging biometric data of non-EU travelers, is causing significant disruptions and long queues as the summer holiday season peaks. The system, now live across 29 European nations, aims to process travelers in approximately 70 seconds to identify visa overstayers and security risks. Since its rollout, it has reportedly flagged 40,000 border refusals and 1,000 security risks, which Brussels considers proof of its effectiveness.
However, the implementation has faced operational challenges, with industry lobbies warning of potential chaos. Reports indicate waiting times at border controls have reached up to five hours during peak periods, putting an estimated 41 million arrivals and $45 billion in tourist spending at risk. This bottleneck occurs as European hubs prepare for a surge in passenger numbers.
The primary cause of the delays appears to be inadequate preparation by national capitals. Many airports are reportedly lacking sufficient border guards, digital kiosks, and essential infrastructure. The system's requirement for guards to collect fingerprints from every first-time arrival is creating an immediate operational standstill at gates. The European border agency, Frontex, has acknowledged that the biometric registration process could take up to two years to stabilize.