Walter Finch
THE European Union’s long-awaited – and anxiously anticipated – new passport system has finally been given a definite start date.
From November 10, non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area, including British tourists, will face stricter border controls as the Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes operational.
The EES will require non-EU citizens to scan their passports at self-service kiosks when entering and leaving the bloc.
However it won’t apply to EU residents, including British TIE holders in Spain.
While the system aims to improve security and reduce overstays, there are fears it could lead to long queues at border controls – especially at Dover and Gibraltar.
“There may have been times you believed it will never happen,” EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said of the EES. “But it’s going to happen.”
“Everything is coming together. We’re in the final testing phase. There is a real momentum now. Carriers, operators, train stations, airports, everyone is getting ready for the big day.”
The system will collect biometric data, including facial scans and fingerprints, and record entry and exit times, making it much harder for visitors to overstay the 90-days-in-180 rule.
“We will know if people stay too long, countering irregular migration,” Johansson said.
“And the EES will make it harder for criminals, terrorists or Russian spies to use fake passports thanks to biometric identification, photos and fingerprints.”
British government agencies and travel industry representatives have warned of potential chaos at border crossings.
While authorities claim to be working to minimise disruption, travellers are advised to allow extra time for border checks when planning their trips.
However, Guy Opperman, a former UK transport minister, has since explained the scheme will have a ‘six-month soft launch’ to iron out any inevitable wrinkles.
The EES is just one part of a wider overhaul of border controls.
From 2025, travellers will also need to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before their trip.
For the price of €7, this additional permission to enter the Schengen zone is likely to add to processing times. The ETIAS will be valid for three years, or until the owner’s passport expires.
Both developments have been greeted with grave misgivings in Gibraltar, which will likely see its fluid border with Spain grind to a halt.
The tiny territory is dependent on 15,000 Spain-based workers crossing the border each and every day.
The government of Gibraltar announced last month that Spain had already started building the EES infrastructure at the border as hopes of a post-Brexit border deal dwindle.
