The European Union (EU) has once again delayed the launch of its new electronic border control system, known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), which was due to begin on 10NOV.
According to multiple reports, EU Home Affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed on 10OCT that the November date is "no longer on the table."
This decision comes after concerns from Germany, France, and the Netherlands were raised about the readiness of the EU's central IT infrastructure.
The EES, which uses biometric data like digital photographs and fingerprints, is meant to register travellers from non-EU countries when they cross the EU's external border.
According to a German government spokesperson, the three countries are not prepared because the EU agency EU-Lisa, which is responsible for managing major IT infrastructure projects, has not yet established the required stability and functionality of the EES central system, BTN Europe reports.
The EES is a crucial step toward the digitalization of EU borders and must be in place before the introduction of the ETIAS travel system for non-EU visitors, which is scheduled to start in 2025.
The system will apply to both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travellers.
The new rule requires visitors from 60 visa-free countries, including Canada, to get electronic travel authorization before entering 30 European countries.
As previously reported by Open Jaw, that system will require visitors from outside the EU to apply for and pay €7 (CAD $10.06) per person for a visa waiver before entering a country in the Schengen zone, which includes France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, among others.
The visa allows non-EU citizens to stay in the EU and Schengen zone for up to 90 days. It’s valid for three years after getting it, so there's no need to reapply during that time. Use the Schengen Visa calculator from VisaGuide to avoid any violations.
The EES could lead to travel delays at border checkpoints, according to concerns expressed by various countries in a Euro News report.
The launch date for the new system has not been determined, according to LBC News.
Multiple sources suggest that the European Commission is considering a soft launch later this year or in 2025.
It also appears that the plans have been scaled back. Sources say the commission now states that border officers will scan the fingerprints or take a photo of those crossing the border for the first time, whereas the initial plan was to capture or verify both biometrics on every visit.
