EU offers EES flexibility for Schengen summer rush: Biometric registration may be temporarily suspended

The European Commission said biometric registration procedures under the new Entry/Exit System (EES) could be temporarily suspended if airports in the Schengen area experience congestion during the summer season.

The EES, which digitally records the entry and exit of non-EU travelers to and from Schengen, entered into force on April 10. With the system, the practice of manually stamping passports ended, while fingerprinting and biometric photo registration became mandatory at border crossings. It is noted that this practice could lengthen passport control times, especially during busy travel periods.

At the European Commission’s daily press briefing, concerns raised by the aviation sector that the EES could lead to long waiting times at airports were brought up. Markus Lammert, the Commission’s spokesperson for home affairs and migration, said the system’s impact on passengers was being closely monitored.

SECURITY CHECKS WILL CONTINUE

Lammert said more than 1000 people assessed as posing a security risk had been identified thanks to the EES so far. Saying the Commission would continue supporting member states, Lammert said a technical-level meeting would be held with the aviation sector ahead of the summer season.

Lammert said the disruptions seen at some airports were not caused solely by the EES, pointing out that staff shortages, infrastructure problems and lack of capacity could also affect waiting times. It was noted that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex was ready to provide staff support to busy airports and help expand the pre-registration practice.

The Commission stressed that if congestion occurs during the first summer season, national authorities could temporarily halt biometric data registration, but that this would not mean border checks would be completely suspended. It said security checks would continue under all circumstances.

Technical details on the implementation of the EES are expected to be shared at a separate briefing to be held in the coming days.