Travel industry struggles with lack of clarity over EES

The tourism industry continues to struggle with uncertainty following the delay in the introduction of the EU Exit-Entry System (EES) earlier this month. Stakeholders are asking the European Commission to provide guidance on preparations for deployment, including a framework detailing the phased rollout of the EES.

According to Gareth Williams, secretary general of Eurostar’s international rail service, support and communication between the UK Home Office and the French Home Office has been good. But communication between governments and the EU, including its main IT agency EU-Lisa, has been “difficult”, he adds.

“Unless they themselves have the confidence and the decision to work, they have nothing to report,” says Williams, according to Connexion France.

The delay to the European border scheme, which was scheduled to go into effect on November 10, comes after several EU countries told the European Commission they would not be ready to implement it. One of the main arguments for the delay was the lack of stability and functionality of the EES central computer system, which is overseen by EU-LISA.

“Behind the latest delay lies a weakness in the test environment with EU systems, which has not given member states the confidence we all know is needed that the systems will interact correctly and be safe and secure. ‘ says Williams.

The best approach for EES, he said, is a phased implementation that would account for potential disruptions during peak periods such as summer. Under his plan, EES would start by enrolling 5 to 10 percent of travelers, allowing time to perfect the system and procedures.

John Keefe, director of corporate affairs and public affairs at Getlink Group, believes the EU will avoid launching simultaneously across all entry points. Instead, EES could be rolled out at smaller points of entry first, while biometric data collection could initially be limited to individuals, according to industry publication Travel News. Getlink is the Eurotunnel operator.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson met with EU-Lisa to discuss the way forward, including whether it would be legally possible to introduce the EEA at some border points and not others.

The Commission has also reportedly changed the wording of its EES guidelines, allowing border authorities to choose between scanning fingerprints or photographing a passenger crossing the border.

Both Getlink, which operates the Eurotunnel, and Eurostar have said they would be ready to roll out EES in November. But for most border crossings, the delay prompted a collective sigh of relief.

The British Port of Dover Council welcomed the delay, adding that there would have been “complete and utter carnage” if the system had been implemented as planned. The operator of the Ports de Normandie ferry port on the other side of the English Channel in France said it was “technically impossible” to apply the system’s rules in many places.

The EES will require non-EU citizens to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics when crossing Schengen borders for the first time, and to scan their passports at self-service kiosks on future crossings. The introduction of the EES will be followed by the introduction of another travel scheme called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

Article topics

biometrics | border security | digital identity | Entry/Exit System (EES) | EU | Eurotunnel | Get link | United Kingdom