BRUSSELS has blocked Italy and Portugal from following the lead of Greece and suspending EES in the latest blow to British holidaymakers.
The European Commission has mandated the use of digital Entry/Exit System (EES) checks in Portugal and Spain this summer, despite Greece having already suspended them.
The only legal exception to the new system is to pause biometric collection for six-hour windows during extremely busy periods between July and September, according to EU rules.
Greece officials have however suspended EES for the upcoming months to help out British tourists who could face lengthy queues as they wait to register on the system.
This makes Greece a more attractive holiday destination for Brits and has prompted other European holiday hotspots to consider making the same move.
Rumours were circulating that Portugal and Italy would drop EES for the summer but now this Brussels warning has left them with no choice but to use the system.
Spain itself is being told by travellers to put a pause on EES for the summer with visitors already having spent hours in queues that have left them confused.
Despite Spain saying that it has made some alterations to the system to make it easier for flyers, people are still calling for change.
Leading these calls is Ryanair who are calling for EES to be lifted until after this summer when airport traffic eases.
“It makes no sense that countries, like Spain, are continuing to implement the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) when they are clearly not ready to do so,” says the budget airline’s Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon.
“As a result of this half-baked system roll out, passengers are being forced to endure excessive passport control queues, and in some cases, missing flights,” he added.
As peak season approaches, Brits that will be boarding flights to Spain this summer are waiting to find out whether the new Schengen system will meet them when they land.
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