The EU has delayed full implementation of the Entry-Exit System (EES) from April to September to give Schengen Area countries more flexibility during the busy summer season.
The biometric system, which will replace the current passport-stamping system by digitally recording travellers’ names, travel documents, biometric data and facial images, was expected to be fully implemented by April 10.
The 29 participating countries have been granted some leeway to allow implementation to be extended up to early September.
However, countries must still have all EES systems in place by the April deadline and only once the roll-out is complete can member states, if needed, partially suspend EES operations for up to 90 days, with a possible 60-day extension to cover the summer peak.
Since its implementation, EES has caused significant delays, particularly at airports in France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, with border control processing times increasing by up to 70%. As a result, Portugal suspended EES operations at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport for three months.
