The European Parliament supported the introduction of a new entry/exit system (EES) to the European Union. 572 MEPs voted for the relevant decision. Relevant information made public on the official website of the European Parliament.
The system will begin to operate from the fall of 2025 and will be implemented gradually. Once launched, the system will capture information on third-country nationals entering or leaving the Schengen area on short-term visas or within the visa-free regime.
Registration will include name, type of travel document, time and place of border crossing, as well as biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints. The main goals of the system are to strengthen security, speed up border control and reduce queues.
The deployment of the system will last 180 days. In case of technical failures at the initial stage, its work can be temporarily suspended. EU countries will have the opportunity to independently determine whether to start the system in stages or register all border crossings at once. Approval of the Entry/Exit System was previously granted by the Council of the European Union, so the vote in the European Parliament took place without discussion.
Within 30 days of the entry into force of the EES system, the EU Agency for the Management of Large IT Systems in the Field of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) must prepare a centralized plan for its deployment. Within 60 days from the same date, each EU member state will have to develop its own national plan. The final decision on the start of the 180-day implementation period will rest with the European Commission.
