The European Union has once again postponed the introduction of a new biometric border control system for third-country nationals, which was previously scheduled for 10 November. This was announced by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ilva Johansson, according to Reuters.
‘The date of 10 November is no longer under consideration,’ Johansson said.
He added that no new timetable for the system’s launch has been set, but that a phased implementation is possible in the future.
The entry/exit system (EES) was supposed to create a digital record of each entry, linking the travel document to the person’s biometric data. This would eliminate the traditional stamping of passports at the EU’s external borders. The system involves fingerprinting, face scanning and answering questions about staying in the Schengen area for non-EU citizens.
However, a representative of the German Ministry of the Interior stressed that the three key countries, which account for 40% of passenger traffic, are not yet ready to implement the EES. It is noted that the stability and functionality of the central system, which should be ensured by the EU-Lisa agency, has not yet been achieved. EU-Lisa is responsible for the implementation of large IT systems within the EU.
The French Ministry of the Interior has also expressed support for the EES system, but stressed the importance of careful preparation before its launch.
This is the third postponement of the system’s launch date. It was originally planned to launch last summer, but France expressed concern that this could have a negative impact on the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the Olympic Games in 2024. The implementation was first postponed to 6 October 2023 and then to November due to concerns about travel issues during the school season.
