The European Commission has acknowledged that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing difficulties at border crossing points across the European Union, as thousands of travelers have faced long queues and significant delays during the peak summer travel season.
A Commission spokesperson said Brussels is aware of the implementation challenges and is working closely with EU member states to monitor the situation and identify solutions. However, the spokesperson stressed that there are no plans to suspend the EES.
The new system electronically records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals, replacing traditional passport stamps. During border checks, travelers are required to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial photographs.
According to RKS News, the rollout has led to lengthy queues at airports and border crossings. European airline and airport associations warn that, in some cases, passengers have faced waiting times of up to five hours, with many missing their flights due to slow processing.
Representatives of the aviation industry have urged the European Commission to allow member states to temporarily suspend the system whenever passenger volumes exceed the capacity of border checkpoints.
They argue that without additional measures and increased staffing, the situation could worsen further as travel demand reaches its peak during July and August.
