The European Commission is turning its attention to resolving the problem causing airport delays that can reach up to five hours. The EU acknowledges the serious problems overshadowing the operation of the new automated border control system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), which has caused long queues at airports such as Brussels, due to the inability of border services to process travellers quickly.
What the EES is
The EES is the EU's new digital system for border control, based on the registration of non-European travellers as they enter and exit the Schengen area, replacing the manual passport stamp. It also collects and stores data such as personal information, travel details and biometric data.
"The problem is intensifying"
Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said a meeting with the aviation industry is expected to be convened on Tuesday, as the problem is intensifying in the middle of the summer period. "We have a huge number of travellers and registrations, over 2 million per week," Lammert said.
He clarified that many of the difficulties observed at certain airports are not related to the system itself, "but to structural challenges that existed before", explaining that these concern infrastructure and technical capacity.
Frontex support and pre-registration app
To address the situation, Lammert said there will also be support from Frontex, with personnel assisting at the busiest airports, as well as in the implementation of the new pre-registration application developed for all member states, which essentially facilitates the process.
