EU ‘could delay’ post-Brexit border checks to keep away from journey chaos

The European Union is contemplating additional delaying the complete rollout of its entry/exit system (EES) as a way to keep away from added problems at its borders, based on a report.

The EU lastly launched its new border safety system in phases from October final yr, changing the outdated strategy of manually stamping passports with the registration of biometric particulars when travellers arrive in Europe.

But the system has already confronted calls to be scrapped after creating bottlenecks at airports, with a fifth of Brits now contemplating cancelling their European holidays this summer time as a result of chaos.

Industry sources informed The Times that Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the commissioner answerable for negotiations over the EES with non-EU international locations, has privately assured the checks will likely be paused.

Mr Tzitzikostas was stated to be pushing to increase a derogation permitting officers to droop the brand new checks previous the prevailing deadline of 6 September for the complete rollout.

And he was reported to have already made assurances to the UK that an extension is feasible, having just lately. met with transport secretary Heidi Alexander, based on the newspaper.

The division stated final month that Ms Alexander had raised issues in regards to the EU’s new digital border examine system with Mr Tzitzikostas throughout their assembly on 14 July.

Ms Alexander stated in an announcement on the time: “We want everyone to have the summer holidays they deserve – and yesterday’s meeting shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.

“I was reassured that the EU commissioner for transport understood the concerns of holidaymakers and recognised the need for us to work together.”

That got here amid experiences that passengers have been lacking their flights resulting from lengthy queues, whereas Ryanair warned of “queue chaos” from the brand new system, which it stated was not prepared for full implementation.

They pointed to a number of widespread airports together with Spain’s Alicante, which they stated was not prepared for the checks resulting from “insufficient staff, kiosks and system readiness”.

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport is now getting ready for a £985 million improve together with amenities to streamline EES checks.

The EU’s EES solely grew to become totally operational in April and applies to all 29 Schengen international locations, most of that are EU member states, with additional operations anticipated within the autumn.

The system requires travellers to register their biometric particulars, corresponding to fingerprints and a photograph, once they arrive within the EU, changing the earlier system of manually stamping passports.

EES is required for all non-EU passengers coming into or exiting Schengen international locations.

The British authorities has introduced £20 million in new funding to extend the variety of cubicles for passport checks on the nation’s principal gateway to Europe, the Port of Dover.

The majority of the brand new checks will likely be executed in EU member states, however will happen in Britain for these utilizing the ferry by means of the Port of Dover or taking the practice into the EU, the federal government stated.