At least nine European countries have been allowed to delay the full roll-out of controversial border biometric checks until the end of the year, The i Paper can reveal.
Brussels has given extensions to several member states after a deadline for full implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals at Schengen area airports passed earlier this month.
At least nine European countries have been allowed to waive the full introduction of EES until the technology required for the necessary facial and fingerprint scans is working effectively, it was reported earlier this week.
They include France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland – countries where airports in popular holiday hotspots have been hit by long EES delays.
EES, which launched last October, is replacing manual passport stamping, but has led to queues as long as seven hours at airport border checkpoints. Some passengers were forced to miss their flights.
Long queues have been reported at European airports due to EES checks, forcing some to miss their flights (Photo: John Calladine)When asked about the nine countries yet to fully introduce the checks, a spokesperson for the European Commission told The i Paper it was in “close and constructive contact with those few member states where some adjustments are still needed at certain border crossing points”.
“We have asked them to further intensify their operational preparedness, including the necessary technical, organisational and communication measures, with a view to ensuring that remaining challenges are fully addressed by the end of the year,” the commission said.
Extra Frontex border officers could also be deployed to EES hotspots during the transition period, a commission spokesperson added.
EES checks have been phased in since October last year.
All non-EU nationals, including British citizens, have been required to undergo the checks since April.
Countries were allowed to waive the checks if queues started to build up. But this exemption ended on 6 September.
The European Commission insisted this week that the “rules for the Entry/Exit System have not changed”.
But they appear to have listened to pleas from airlines, airports and member states by allowing some countries a three-month reprieve before fully introducing the checks.
A commission spokesperson added: “There is a strong joint will to make the system work everywhere.”
They said member states have registered more than 192 million entries and exits under the new system, leading to more than 66,000 people being refused entry to countries.
This included more than 1,700 “concerning individuals presenting a threat to our internal security”.
What is EES?
EES requires British passport holders and other third-country nationals to register biometric data, including fingerprints, when entering or exiting the Schengen area.
Applying to 29 countries across Europe, excluding Ireland and Cyprus, the system has led to widespread delays this summer.
The i Paper has previously reported that some airports like Lisbon and Palma de Mallorca saw wait times lasting hours, with flights reportedly taking off while passengers were still in the queue.
What will happen if countries refuse to use the EES?
It is not clear if the EU will start to enforce the rules, or what action it could take if countries continue to defy rules next year.
“To date, the commission has adopted a relatively pragmatic approach on this,” Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at the Association of British Travel Agents, said.
It is unlikely that the system will be scrapped if enough countries refuse to adopt it, he added.
“They [the EU] are working with member states to help them to implement it, but they have always been clear that the end point must be that the EES is fully implemented, and we don’t see any indication that there’s going to be any significant change in the legislation.”
What about Spain?
Spain’s interior ministry said its airports have been carrying out full implementation of EES since the 6 September deadline.
A Spanish government spokesperson said: “The checks are proceeding quite normally and without interruptions”.
Spain experienced some of the most severe issues with the EES this year.
But Petherbridge said: “If you travel to Spanish airports, they have pretty advanced systems in place. It is an example of a country that’s made real progress since April.”
However he did say any build-up of queues in individual cases could see them relax rules given the EU’s extension decision.
What has been the reaction to the delays?
The International Air Transport Association said “operational challenges” emerged at several border crossing points even when EES checks were formally allowed to be suspended. These delays also extended to ports and rail crossings, they added.
A spokesperson said the “temporary flexibility mechanism should be resumed and remain in place at least until the end of the winter season, and until the necessary operational conditions are in place.
“This includes stable system performance, as well as the full deployment of the supporting infrastructure and personnel.”
Hence then, the article about france italy and greece to shelve ees checks for the rest of the year was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( France, Italy and Greece to shelve EES checks for the rest of the year )
Also on site :
- Barbra Streisand Decries Trump’s “Unchecked Ego” Amid His Assertion That The Kennedy Center May Be Torn Down
- ‘Charlie’s Angel’ Star Gets Brutally Honest About Why the Show Never Won Any Major Awards: ‘They Put Us Down… We Were Barbie Dolls’
- Fan-Favorite ‘Scream’ Star Says He Regrets and ‘Feels Ashamed’ About Taking Part in New Sequel: ‘I Blew That, I’m on the Wrong Side of History’