EU Entry/Exit System strains airports, nine states ask to extend emergency measures

During the summer of 2024 the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) faced its first major test, causing queues of two to five hours at busy airports such as Rome‑Fiumicino, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife South, Paris‑Beauvais and Milan‑Linate. In response, nine member states – Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland – sent a joint letter to EU interior commissioner Magnus Brunner requesting an extension of the temporary mechanism that allows border guards to suspend biometric fingerprint and facial‑image capture. The mechanism is set to expire on 6 September 2026. Airlines and airport operators, including easyJet chief Kenton Jarvis and Fraport‑Greece head Alexander Zinell, have urged greater flexibility, citing the “unacceptable” delays.

The EES, which replaces manual passport stamps for third‑country nationals, records biometric data at external Schengen borders. While it applies to most travelers, Algerian citizens holding a valid residence permit in an EES‑participating country or a long‑stay (D) visa are exempt, whereas those with short‑stay (C) visas must undergo the biometric check. The rollout has highlighted operational bottlenecks, with each registration taking 1–3 minutes, prompting calls for pre‑registration and other measures to ease pressure on European airports.