Greece drops EU entry-exit biometrics for British travellers

You may bear in mind the time period “Grexit”. It was floating round in the direction of the top of the final decade when there was speak that Greece may comply with the UK in taking the courageous choice to go away the European Union. You may have seen that by no means occurred. Neither did the rumours that Greece may tumble out of the euro – abandoning the only foreign money in favour of a brand new drachma – come to something. Talk of vaults stuffed with freshly printed banknotes able to enter circulation from Athens to Zante proved false.

Yet this weekend it has emerged that Greece is selecting its personal course to keep away from the kinds of airport chaos that we’ve been witnessing at numerous European areas for the previous week. As you could recall, since 10 April, each Schengen space frontier is meant to be making use of the EU entry-exit system in all its biometric glory to British passport holders:

These guidelines apply to all “third-country nationals”, together with Australians, Canadian and Venezuelans. But British travellers to Europe outnumber all of them put collectively.

I had beforehand warned that the queues at small Greek island airports may develop alarmingly lengthy. On some days in summer season, they will have upwards of two,000 UK passport holders arriving and departing. The Greek border authorities, like each frontier organisation, wish to get individuals on their manner as rapidly as doable. But the staffing points are appreciable.

But late on Friday, Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation within the UK, revealed that British passport holders at the moment are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing factors. She mentioned the transfer is geared toward “ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece”.

This unilateral transfer, she mentioned, “is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports”.

The essential side, in my opinion, is definitely border processing on departure. Calamitous hold-ups on the outbound passport management at Milan Linate airport final Sunday scuppered the return residence for greater than 100 easyJet passengers who had been booked to journey to Manchester.

So what is going to occur as an alternative? Ms Skarveli instructed me: “Practically, this means that the entry process in place before the implementation of the EES will remain unchanged.”

In my expertise, which means the frontier official taking probably the most cursory of glimpses on the traveller’s passport, adopted by a perfunctory stamp and a well mannered smile. Fifteen seconds, tops, in contrast with 5 occasions longer for the entry-exit system.

The choice to go in opposition to Brussels has the, er, fingerprints of pragmatists throughout it. The heat Greek welcome for British travellers isn’t just an instance of xenophilia, the appreciation of international individuals; it’s also an financial important. While a northern Italian metropolis comparable to Milan most likely received’t discover if some UK guests are deterred by the EES shambles, Greece desires to keep away from any such issues.

Just earlier than the EU appointment for making each Schengen space frontier 100 per cent biometric and ending “wet stamping”, Brussels conceded that some areas wouldn’t meet the entry-exit system deadline.

At the three “juxtaposed” border controls within the UK – at Dover, Folkestone and London St Pancras – the costly EES kiosks are nonetheless not hooked as much as the French police aux frontieres IT system. Per week in the past, I wrote: “This fiasco is set to continue through the summer for 150 more days, to Monday 7 September – handily, at the end of the main summer holidays. Until then, all you can do is obey the local instructions. Good luck, everyone.”

Evidently, officers in Athens took the view: why danger cheesing off British guests by imposing the digital borders scheme by the e book, if others aren’t?

An finish date for the Greek EES alleviation has not been talked about, however I think about it could stretch past that new EU deadline – probably till the final taverna proprietor within the serene port of Naoussa on the island of Paros has shut his or her doorways for winter. Greece has stolen a march on her Mediterranean rivals; anticipate others to comply with go well with.

Read extra: Your EU entry-exit system questions answered

Simon Calder, also called The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about journey for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key journey difficulty – and what it means for you.