The EU’s new Exit/Entry System (EES) that will require non-EU citizens to be fingerprinted and photographed before being allowed to enter the block has been delayed until the end of 2023.

The introduction of the system had already been pushed back from its original implementation date of May 2022. Contractors not meeting deadlines for the necessary infrastructure to operate the system at ferry terminals, airports and external land borders, have been blamed for the delays.

When implemented, EES will work in parallel with the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which the EU plans to launch in November. An approved ETIAS application will be mandatory for all visa-exempt travellers when visiting EU countries and will be valid for three years. 

The EU says the new systems are necessary to ensure border security and identify people who exceed their permitted time of 90 days’ stay in the Schengen Area.

However, the requirement for fingerprints and photos to be validated at the port every time a traveller enters the EU is causing concern about possible gridlock, especially during busy periods, and the delay in its implementation has been welcomed by many in the transport and travel industries.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA), alongside several other groups, have warned about the delays such a system would cause. For example, a coach filled with passengers validating their ETIAS would see each getting their fingerprints and face scanned, severely impacting travel times.

Richard Smith, Managing Director of the RHA said, “We welcome the delay as the issues with the practical operation of the scheme, including the infrastructure required, would not have been overcome by May. We’ve raised concerns about the slow progress on getting the system ready, and then familiarising our operators with how it will work. This extra time to get it up and running effectively must be used wisely.”

ETIAS is still set to be operational from November 2023 as planned, but there is expected to be an implementation period of six months to allow the transition to the new system to take place as smoothly as possible.

Photo: Richard Smith, Managing Director of the RHA has welcomed the delay.