The European Union has confirmed it will not suspend its recently implemented Entry/Exit System (EES), a new biometric border control regime, despite admitting to finding 20 areas causing significant queuing issues. This stance comes as a fresh poll indicates that a substantial number of British holidaymakers are rethinking their summer travel plans to EU destinations.
EU officials have acknowledged that the EES, which requires non-EU citizens to register biometric data upon entering and exiting most European countries, is "not perfect." However, they have communicated to the travel industry that a full suspension of the programme is neither "necessary" nor "feasible." The system's rollout has been marred by reports of extensive delays, prompting widespread concern ahead of the peak summer travel season.
For British travellers, the implications are particularly acute. A recent City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll reveals that a quarter of UK adults are now less inclined to travel to Europe this summer, citing the prospect of lengthy border queues. The survey further detailed that 12% of Brits are "much less likely" to visit the EU, with another 12% stating they are "a little less likely" to make the trip.
In response to the growing operational challenges, EU officials have reportedly initiated discussions with member states to mitigate the delays. Magnus Brunner, the bloc's migration commissioner, informed airport and airline executives that the EES aims to enhance citizen safety while minimising inconvenience for visitors from outside the Schengen area. He maintained that the system generally "works well" across most member states, attributing recent delays to "insufficient staff or lack of adequate infrastructure" rather than inherent system flaws.
Last week, a coalition of prominent aviation organisations, including ACI Europe, Airlines 4 Europe, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), urged European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to suspend the new checks. They argued that the digital bureaucracy is negatively impacting "millions of passengers" and creating "severe operational consequences," placing "unsustainable pressure" on border authorities, airports, and airlines. These groups highlighted that the issue is not limited to major hubs but also affects smaller airports serving popular tourist destinations.
Budget airline Wizz Air's UK boss previously advised passengers in May to allow at least three hours for passing through the new system. While some areas have reportedly experienced "seamless travel," significant queues have been observed at popular holiday hotspots such as Spain, Portugal, and France, according to airline executives.