EU Entry/Exit System misidentifies twins, causing border delays

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), launched on 10 April 2026 to replace passport stamps with biometric data, has faced technical problems. A British citizen was detained at the Cluj‑Napoca airport in Romania after the system failed to record her sister’s earlier trip to Amsterdam, mistakenly linking the two identical twins and flagging her for overstaying in the Schengen area. After about 15 minutes of questioning she was released.

Travelers from non‑EU countries, especially Bosnia‑Herzegovina, have reported long queues and repeated biometric checks at the Bosnia‑Croatia border. EU data show more than 50 000 people have been denied entry for security reasons, with over 5 000 of those cases recorded in Croatia alone. The delays have been especially severe during the summer travel season.

EU officials acknowledge the shortcomings. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that technical issues remain and that member states are responsible for data accuracy. Experts stress that identification should combine facial scans with fingerprint data and passport details, not rely solely on facial similarity. Passengers can request corrections to their records through national authorities.