Smart Borders under pressure: Dispute over the new EU entry system intensifies

The introduction of the new digital and automated entry and exit system (EES) in Europe is causing heated debates between Brussels and the aviation industry. What was intended as a technical milestone to modernize border controls and replace traditional passport stamps is apparently developing into a severe test for the infrastructure, especially at major hubs.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of the Airports Council International Europe (ACI) association, warns of significant inconvenience for passengers. Reason: A new phase of the EES ramp-up came into effect on Friday.

After only ten percent of passengers had to use the system in October, the quota is now at least 35 percent. According to ACI, this is likely to exceed the capacities at many borders. The digital control is to be fully implemented there by April 10th.

The EES requires travelers from non-EU countries, such as Great Britain or the USA, to provide biometric data in the form of four fingerprints and facial scans upon their first border crossing as part of the Smart Border Program. This registration takes place before the actual conversation with border officials. It is intended to help more effectively prevent illegal stays in the Schengen area in the future. However, the additional process steps are proving to be time-consuming.

Commission: No concrete problems

According to industry representatives, the effects of the gradual activation are already clearly noticeable. In a conversation with Politico, Jankovec estimated an increase in processing times at border controls of up to 70 percent. At peak times, this leads to waiting times of up to three hours at some airports. The lobbyist fears that the new regulation will exacerbate the situation.

This assessment is supported by reports from Brussels Airport. Its spokesperson confirmed to the online magazine: The EES not only significantly extends waiting times for entry into Belgium. It has also drastically increased the need for additional personnel at control points.

The EU Commission has a different perception. A spokesperson rejected the accusations of impending chaos in a conversation with Politico: The system has been running largely smoothly since its launch.

Even during the intensive winter holiday season, no significant problems occurred. Those involved have addressed the initial difficulties that are normal when introducing complex technical systems. In many member states, the claims of drastically increased waiting times have been refuted. The security gain through the system by controlling who enters the EU, when, and where, is beyond question.

Concerns in Spain and Portugal

According to the report, the strain became particularly evident in Portugal, where the government had to suspend the EES at Lisbon Airport for three months at the end of December. To maintain operations, military personnel have to support border controls there. The airport in Fiumicino, Rome, also states that the operational conditions are highly complex and have had significant impacts on processing speeds. In Spain, the hotel industry is sounding the alarm: it is unacceptable for tourists to have to queue for an hour or more after a long flight before being allowed to enter the country. Border authorities must be urgently reinforced.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior insists that there have been no significant incidents or queues nationwide. However, local associations complain of chronic bottlenecks. The ADP Group, which operates the major Parisian airports, gave the all-clear. The discrepancy suggests that the technological and structural conditions at individual locations were prepared very differently for the new requirements.

The dispute between the Commission and the practitioners on the ground is unlikely to subside before the full EES implementation in April. As early as October, airlines and national supervisory authorities stated that travelers from third countries should plan significantly more time for formalities. Airport operators expressed concern: even a few minutes' delay at border control could jeopardize connecting flights for entire networks at major hubs.

(nie)