Staff Reporter
A NEW border system that is due to be implemented throughout the European Union has been postponed once again.
The so-called Entry/Exit System (EES) is going to replace manual passport stamping for arrivals from third countries such as the United Kingdom.
The system was originally due to be implemented as far back as 2021, but there have been regular delays to this time frame.
The previous launch date announced was October 6 of this year, but for reasons that have not been made public, the date has been pushed back again, this time to November 10, 2024.
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That’s according to a report from the website Schengen News, which also speculated that the delay is to give member states more time to prepare for the system and to switch from manual to digital checks.
The website also stated that several airports across the EU have said that they are not ready to implement the system by the October 6 date.
Once EES is in place, all non-EU citizens crossing the border into the bloc will have to register when entering Schengen for short stays.
Foreign visitors will have to provide their fingerprints, passport details, and have a picture of themselves taken, according to Schengen News.
That data will be stored for three years, meaning that during this time, after registration, the process will be much smoother, and passport stamps will not be necessary.
That said, delays are initially expected at the EU borders once the system is implemented, given the time needed to complete registration.
