The EU has set a deadline for the launch of a new EES system that will affect Ukrainians

The European Union has defined clear deadlines for the launch of the new digital border Entry/Exit System (EES), which should record the entry and exit of non-EU citizens, including Ukrainians. Despite previous plans to implement the system in 2024, EU member states were not ready for such changes, which led to the postponement of the deadlines.

Dates for launching the EES system

The EES system should be operational in all countries of the European Union in October 2025. However, for a smooth transition, there is a six-month transition period during which member states can gradually implement the system. A full launch, bar none, is scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The EES was initially planned to be operational in early November 2024. However, a number of EU member states expressed concern about insufficient technical and organizational readiness. The main reasons for the postponement were:

• the need to update the infrastructure at border points;
• lack of trained personnel to work with the new system;
• complexity of EES integration with national databases.

As a result, it was decided to postpone the start to October 2025 in order to ensure a high-quality implementation without technical failures.

How the new system will work

The Entry/Exit system provides for the automatic collection of biometric data of all persons crossing the external borders of the EU. This means that every entry and exit will be recorded in a single database. During the first six months after launch, EU member states may implement the system partially:

• introduce biometric control only at individual checkpoints;
• apply the system only at certain hours when the flow of passengers is less;
• test the system and gradually adapt it to national realities.

At the end of the transition period, all EU countries will be obliged to apply the system without exception, recording each border crossing.

How the new system will affect Ukrainians

The introduction of the EES will affect citizens of Ukraine on an equal basis with other citizens of third countries that are not members of the EU. In particular:

• every entry and exit will be recorded in the database;
• border guards will automatically read and store fingerprints, photos and other biometric data;
• the system will track how long a citizen of Ukraine has been in the EU.

The official introduction of EES is explained by the need to increase the level of security in the EU and prevent violations of migration legislation. However, for Ukrainians who regularly travel or temporarily live in European countries, this will mean increased control and the impossibility of exceeding the permitted period of stay.

It is expected that on March 5, 2025, the ministers of the EU countries will agree on the positions on putting the system into operation. After that, the document will be sent to the European Parliament, where a vote may take place in July 2025.

European diplomats are convinced that the EES system will receive the support of all EU states, as a consensus has already been reached at the level of the EU Council. In the coming months, countries will be preparing for new changes, from upgrading border posts to training staff to work with biometric databases.