The Port of Dover faces a summer of 'utter chaos' due to the European Union's troubled Entry/Exit System (EES), MPs have warned. Cross-Channel ferry passengers can expect severe disruption and lengthy queues, with traffic expected to peak on Friday 17th July.
Karen Bradley, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, highlighted the urgent need for action, citing Dover's busiest weekend during school summer breaks. The port anticipates a significant increase in vehicles - almost 50% more than last year - due to the EES checks and expects four-and-a-half-hour delays similar to those experienced during May half-term.
The EU has rejected calls from airports and airlines across Europe to suspend fingerprinting and facial recognition border controls, despite acknowledging problems at "20 difficult spots" out of 1,500 border crossing points. However, MPs warn that British holidaymakers and firms transporting goods will suffer most if the EES issues persist.
A recent visit by committee members revealed that new infrastructure, including automatic kiosks for car travellers, remains inoperable due to ongoing technology delays from French authorities. The Port of Dover's Chief Executive, Doug Bannister, has written to the Business and Trade Committee expressing concerns about the potential impact on local towns, transport networks, freight, and trade.
The EES, launched last October after years of delay, includes biometric data collection, with border police possessing discretionary power to temporarily suspend it until September. Calls for action have also come from the International Air Transport Association, citing delays in countries like Portugal and Spain, and Ryanair, which has warned of "queue chaos" at major holiday airports.