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EU Rejects Calls to Delay Biometric Border Controls Amidst Airport Concerns
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Energy & Infrastructure

EU Rejects Calls to Delay Biometric Border Controls Amidst Airport Concerns

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • The EU has rejected calls to suspend new biometric border controls, despite acknowledging issues at 20 locations.
  • The new Entry/Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and facial scans upon first entry.
  • Airlines and airports had warned of potential chaos during the summer tourist season, but officials deem a full suspension unnecessary.

The European Union has refused requests from airports and airlines to postpone the implementation of new biometric border controls, which include fingerprinting and facial recognition. While acknowledging "20 problematic points" related to long waiting times, EU officials stated that a complete suspension of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is neither necessary nor possible.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) is not perfect, but a complete suspension of its application is not necessary and not possible.

โ€” EU officialsStatement regarding the implementation of new biometric border controls.

The EES requires non-EU citizens to register their fingerprints and facial scans upon their first entry into the Schengen area. These biometric data are then checked each time they leave and re-enter the zone. The system's rollout, just a week before the peak summer tourist season, has raised concerns among travel industry representatives.

Passengers are already experiencing delays and missed flights.

โ€” IATAConcerns raised by the International Air Transport Association about the impact of new border controls.

Airlines and airports, along with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), had previously requested a delay until next summer, fearing potential chaos at popular tourist destinations. IATA reported that passengers were already experiencing delays and missed flights in countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Belgium. Ryanair had also warned of "queue chaos" at airports, including Alicante, Malaga, and Palma.

Chaos due to queues at airports.

โ€” RyanairWarning issued by Ryanair regarding potential disruptions.

EU officials countered that a partial implementation of the system would create an "unfavorable situation" where travelers could be stranded at border crossings. They noted that out of 1,500 border crossings, only 20 are considered "problematic." Measures are being implemented to alleviate these issues, with Lisbon reportedly deploying additional staff and Brussels airport hiring 50 new Frontex officers. While airports can temporarily suspend the system during uncontrolled queues, this exemption is set to expire in September, and no member state has yet requested an extension.

An unfavorable situation where passengers remain stuck at border crossings.

โ€” EU officialsReasoning against a partial implementation of the EES.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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