Key facts
- The EU's digital Entry/Exit System (EES) is facing technical problems, acknowledged by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- Airlines and airports report significant delays, up to five hours during peak times, due to the EES.
- Aviation industry groups have requested the flexibility to suspend the EES during peak summer travel.
- The EES mandates biometric data registration for non-EU travelers to enhance security and track entries/exits.
- The Commission stated the EES has identified over 700 individuals posing a security risk since its October launch.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged that the EU's new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) is experiencing "technical problems," a departure from the Commission's previous stance of downplaying disruptions. The system, which requires travelers from non-EU countries to register biometric data, has been blamed by airlines and airports for causing hours-long queues and missed connecting flights during the peak summer travel season.
Von der Leyen stated that efforts are underway with member states to resolve these issues. This admission contrasts with earlier statements from the Commission, such as from spokesperson Markus Lammert, who had suggested the impact was limited. The aviation industry, represented by ACI Europe, IATA, and Airlines for Europe, has voiced strong concerns in an open letter, reporting waiting times of up to five hours and significant operational disruption. They have urged the Commission to allow countries the flexibility to suspend the EES, particularly during July and August.
The EES aims to enhance security and combat overstays by replacing passport stamps with digital records, with options for self-service kiosks and pre-registration apps. However, implementation has faced challenges, with some border officers still manually entering data and only Sweden and Portugal having activated the processing apps. Several airports have temporarily suspended biometric data collection to alleviate congestion. Despite these operational hurdles, the Commission defends the system's security benefits, noting that it has identified over 700 individuals posing a security risk. Irish Minister for Home Affairs Jim O’Callaghan confirmed these figures have since risen and that approximately 110 million passengers have undergone EES checks.