Nine EU countries delay full rollout of entry/exit system

Nine EU countries, including Greece, have postponed full implementation of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), seeking more time to make the new border checks work without causing disruption at busy airports.

The system requires non-EU nationals travelling to the Schengen area to provide fingerprints and a facial scan when they enter or leave the bloc.

France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland have reportedly been allowed to delay the checks in order to “maintain border fluidity,” The Sunday Times reported, citing queues and technical problems.

This summer, some Greek airports were gridlocked and long bottlenecks formed on Greece’s northern borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey as officials struggled to operate the new system.

EES began a phased rollout in October last year and was initially expected to be fully operational by April. Countries were then given a 150-day transition period during which they could suspend the checks at peak times over the summer to limit disruption.

That period expired on 6 September, but the nine countries have reportedly told the European Commission they will not fully enforce the new controls until the necessary technology and systems are working properly.

According to The Sunday Times, Brussels has informally agreed to the delay. The European Commission declined to comment.

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