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It was preserved as a record on September 10; the timeline below shows how it unfolded, with sources. Get the briefing to follow the top situations still developing: three emails a week, sourced and in order.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [POLITICS]

74 clusters · 366 sources · 114 days · First seen · Last updated

EES delays persist; nine states seek extension of biometric

Overview

Since the full rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2026, queues of up to five hours have persisted at major Schengen airports and land crossings. While the European Commission has maintained the system for security, several member states have utilized a flexibility clause to temporarily suspend biometric fingerprint and facial-image capture at congested points.

By August 2026, the operational strain has become more acute. Major hubs including Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Milan Malpensa, and Brussels have deactivated EES biometric checks during peak summer traffic to maintain passenger flow. Air France-KLM stated that the system is deactivated during peak months “to ensure smooth transit,” while officials noted that security is maintained through manual identity data entry.

Data indicates that wait times have doubled at several key locations; for example, average waits at Frankfurt and Amsterdam rose to 120 minutes in July, while Munich saw waits increase from 31 to 60 minutes. In response to these “unacceptable” delays, nine member states—Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland—have submitted a joint request to EU interior commissioner Magnus Brunner to extend the temporary suspension mechanism beyond its current September 6 expiry.

Industry leaders, including Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, have criticized the system for causing significant increases in queues across numerous airports. Meanwhile, the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) remains pushed back to 2027.

Entities

European Commission · Ryanair · Ireland · Entry/Exit System (EES) · European Union

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

  • "EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026."

    vs

    "The European Commission allowed the temporary suspension of biometric checks until 6 September 2026."

    The first claim states the system became fully operational on 10 April 2026, while the second claim states biometric checks were allowed to be suspended until 6 September 2026.

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 15 sources
    European airports face major delays due to new EU Entry/Exit System

    The EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) has doubled passport control wait times at major airports like Frankfurt and Amsterdam, prompting calls from airlines and member states for extended flexibility.

  2. [POLITICS] 14 sources
    EU suspends biometric border checks at major airports during summer rush

    The EU’s Entry/Exit System, which logs fingerprints and facial data for non‑EU travelers, is being temporarily switched off at busy airports such as Paris, Amsterdam, Milan and Frankfurt during the summer peak,

  3. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System strains airports, nine states ask to extend emergency measures

    EU's Entry/Exit System caused long airport queues this summer; nine states ask to extend the emergency suspension of biometric checks, while Algerian residents with permits or long‑stay visas are exempt.

  4. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    European Spots Without EES System Provide Crowd‑Free Travel for Serbian Tourists

    The EU's new Entry/Exit System is causing biometric queues for Serbian travelers; Cyprus, Ireland, Albania and Moldova remain EES‑free, offering smoother holiday options.

  5. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    UK politicians push to postpone EU Entry/Exit System ahead of summer travel rush

    UK politicians urge the prime minister to seek a postponement of the EU Entry/Exit System until September, warning that the flawed border control will affect 2.2 million travelers during the peak summer holiday

  6. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Serbia's Star Tours promotes one‑day European trips amid EES border delays

    Star Tours markets affordable one‑day trips from Serbia while EU border biometric checks cause delays, prompting travelers to consider EES‑free spots like Cyprus and Ireland.

  7. [INTERNATIONAL] 35 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System Triples Passport Checks for British Travelers

    EU’s new Entry/Exit System is tripling passport‑control times for British travellers, with waits at Rome rising from 7 to 20 minutes and up to two‑hour queues reported at other airports, prompting Ryanair to警告旅

  8. [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    EU’s ETIAS and Entry‑Exit System to reshape travel for Bosnia‑Herzegovina citizens and cause airport delays

    EU’s ETIAS will require Bosnian travelers to obtain a €20 electronic authorisation by late 2026, while the Entry‑Exit System is already causing long airport queues across Schengen hubs.

  9. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Port of Dover braces for summer congestion as EU EES system stays inactive

    Port of Dover warns of severe summer congestion as the EU's Entry Exit System remains inactive, despite a £40 m biometric facility and new government funding.

  10. [INTERNATIONAL] 12 sources
    Germany expands visa‑free travel to 62 countries, keeps Turkey on list

    Germany will let citizens of 62 non‑EU countries travel visa‑free from 2026, but Turkey remains excluded; ETIAS rollout is delayed to 2027.

  11. [POLITICS] 8 sources
    Croatia prepares for ETIAS, Bosnia‑Herzegovina travelers to pay €20 fee

    Croatia reports smooth EES operation and readies ETIAS, meaning Bosnia‑Herzegovina visitors will need to pay €20 and apply online; rollout delayed to early next year.

  12. [POLITICS] 9 sources
    UK and France boost border staff to ease EES travel delays

    UK and France will add border staff and £20 m funding to speed up EU Entry/Exit System checks at Dover, Folkestone and London St Pancras, aiming to curb summer‑season queues.

  13. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    EU delays launch of ETIAS travel authorisation system to 2027

    The EU may push back ETIAS launch to 2027 due to IT problems with the new EES border system and industry pressure over long queues.

  14. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System Triggers Hours‑Long Queues at European Airports

    The EU's new Entry/Exit System is causing up to five‑hour airport queues, prompting airlines and several member states to call for a temporary suspension of the biometric checks.

  15. [POLITICS] 7 sources
    EU postpones ETIAS travel authorisation to 2027

    The EU has delayed ETIAS, the electronic travel authorisation, to 2027 because the new EES border system has caused long airport queues and operational glitches, affecting visa‑exempt travelers.

  16. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Bulgaria and Serbia agree to open new seasonal Kalotina border crossing

    Bulgaria and Serbia will open a seasonal Kalotina 2 – Gradina 2 border crossing for pedestrians and light vehicles to reduce peak‑season congestion.

  17. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    French Air Traffic Control Under Scrutiny After Court Report and Ryanair Warning

    France’s Court of Accounts and a Senate report expose severe ATC staffing and technology problems, prompting Ryanair to demand urgent reforms to avoid costly delays and cancellations.

  18. [INTERNATIONAL] 29 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System Triggers Widespread Travel Delays and Queue Chaos

    EU’s new Entry/Exit System has caused airport and border queues up to five hours, prompting airline and member‑state appeals for flexible checks and a postponement of ETIAS to 2027.

  19. [POLITICS] 24 sources
    EU keeps biometric Entry/Exit System despite airport queue problems

    EU refuses to suspend the Entry/Exit System’s biometric checks despite queues at 20 key airports, allowing only temporary data‑collection pauses while adding staff and testing a pre‑registration app.

  20. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Ryanair blames Spain’s air traffic control for 17,000 flight delays

    Ryanair reports over 17,000 flight delays affecting 3.1 million passengers in Spain since April, blames Enaire’s staffing shortages, and urges government action as Spain now trails France in ATC performance.

  21. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Ryanair warns of bag‑size tricks and long queues under EU's new digital border system

    Ryanair advises using a cardboard insert to fit the new 40×30×20 cm hand‑bag allowance and warns the EU’s Entry‑Exit System may cause hour‑long airport queues and flight delays.

  22. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Portugal deploys 367 PSP officers to airports for summer border control

    Portugal’s PSP posted 367 border officers at its major airports to ease summer passenger queues after the EU Schengen system fully took effect.

  23. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Copenhagen Airport faces longer passport queues under new EU Entry/Exit System

    EU's new Entry/Exit System is causing passport queues of up to 75 minutes at Copenhagen Airport, with warnings of longer delays this summer.

  24. [POLITICS] 13 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System triggers airport delays across Europe

    EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System, in place since April, is causing multi‑hour queues at airports across Europe; airlines warn of summer chaos, while the Commission refuses to suspend the rollout despite noted “

  25. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    World Travel & Tourism Council warns EU Entry/Exit System could hurt European tourism

    WTTC urges EU to speed up the Travel to Europe app, launch a unified traveler information campaign and ensure staff and equipment are ready for the Schengen Entry/Exit System, warning that three‑hour delays may

  26. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    EU Border Checks Trigger Widespread Airport Delays Across Europe

    EU’s new external border checks are creating long airport queues and flight delays, prompting airlines and ACI Europe to ask Brussels for a temporary suspension during the summer peak.

  27. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Travel to Greece: Safety warnings on car thefts and alternative border routes

    Macedonian tourists are warned against car thefts in Greece and advised to use an alternative Balkan route to avoid long Evros border queues.

  28. [INTERNATIONAL] 76 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System stalls airports, triggers Ryanair warnings

    EU’s new Entry/Exit System is creating long airport queues—up to five hours—prompting Ryanair to demand a summer postponement, as the European Commission admits technical problems.

  29. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System overwhelms Rome airport, triggering long queues

    The EU’s new Entry/Exit System, requiring biometric checks for third‑country travelers, is causing hours‑long queues at Rome’s airport, prompting officials to consider suspending it.

  30. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    EU border checks strain European airports, causing delays and half‑empty flights

    EU border‑control checks are causing long airport queues, half‑empty flights and threaten summer tourism; industry groups ask the Commission to suspend them during July‑August.

  31. [POLITICS] 7 sources
    EU airlines and airports demand suspension of biometric Entry/Exit System this summer

    Airlines and airports ask the EU to suspend the biometric Entry/Exit System this summer, citing up to five‑hour queues, half‑empty flights and tourism impact as passenger volumes peak.

  32. [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System creates airport delays across Europe

    The EU's biometric Entry/Exit System is causing major delays at European airports, prompting officials in Rome and elsewhere to call for a temporary suspension during the summer rush.

  33. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Macedonia sees up to four‑hour queues at Bogorodica and Evzoni border crossings

    At the start of the summer tourist season, Macedonia’s Bogorodica and Evzoni border crossings faced kilometer‑long queues, with some drivers waiting up to four hours to enter the country.

  34. [INTERNATIONAL] 22 sources
    Rome airports warn of summer chaos due to EU biometric border system

    Rome’s airports fear the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System will cause summer travel chaos; officials suggest temporarily suspending checks as queues could reach hours across Europe.

  35. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Rome airports may suspend EU biometric entry system amid summer queue chaos

    Rome's main airports face six‑hour queues from the EU's new biometric Entry/Exit System and may suspend it for non‑EU travelers this summer, officials say.

  36. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Serbian drivers face border jams en route to Greece this summer

    Serbian motorists face growing border queues as summer travel to Greece peaks, with tolls expedited, new EU entry checks at Bulgaria, and advice to drive cautiously.

  37. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Portugal receives 25 Frontex agents to boost border control

    Portugal welcomed 25 Frontex agents to reinforce airport and port border controls, aid the new Entry/Exit System, and combat illegal migration and trafficking, with EU funding and Iberian cooperation.

  38. [INTERNATIONAL] 12 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System causes summer travel delays across Europe

    EU biometric Entry/Exit System, active since April 2026, is causing hour‑long queues at airports and ports across Europe, prompting airlines and airports to advise early arrivals and some to suspend checks.

  39. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    EU to launch digital Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS travel authorisation from April 2026

    EU Schengen will roll out the digital Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS authorisation on 10 April 2026, ending passport stamps and imposing stricter monitoring, fines and bans for overstays.

  40. [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Serbian travelers hit by long delays and biometric checks under EU EES

    EU’s EES system forces Serbian travelers into long queues, vehicle‑exit mandates and repeated biometric checks, prompting complaints of dehumanisation; Greece will suspend the rule for Serbians until Aug 30.

  41. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    EES delays cause lengthy queues for UK holidaymakers at Dover and airports

    UK holidaymakers face up to six‑hour queues at Dover and European airports this summer as the EU’s Entry/Exit System is delayed, prompting airlines to urge earlier arrivals.

  42. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Portugal's airlines urge flexible border controls as summer travel surges

    EasyJet urges Portugal to ease Entry/Exit System controls to cut summer queue delays, while Qatar Airways adds seven weekly Lisbon‑Doha flights as long‑haul demand rebounds.

  43. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Portugal sees easing of airport passenger‑control queues

    Portugal's interior minister says airport queue times are improving, citing added staff, e‑gates and a July police deployment to support the new EU border system.

  44. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Greek Evzonoi border crossing upgraded to ease Macedonian tourist traffic

    Greek Deputy Interior Minister Konstantinos Gioulakas announced new lanes and modular control points at the Evzonoi border crossing, temporarily suspending biometric registration to cut wait times for Macedovan

  45. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Greek border crossings overwhelmed as Serbian and Macedonian tourists face long queues

    Summer tourism spikes cause hour‑plus queues at Greece's Dojran and Evzoní borders, affecting Serbian and Macedonian travelers.

  46. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    EU Biometric Entry/Exit System Causes Airport Queue Chaos

    EU's new biometric Entry/Exit System has triggered long queues at European airports, with waits of up to five hours; Frontex warns issues may last two years and Portugal hired police to control crowds.

  47. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System threatens up to 41 million tourists and $45 billion in revenue

    A WTTC survey warns the EU’s new Entry/Exit System could cause 3‑4 hour border waits, deterring up to one‑third of travelers and risking 41 million visits and $45 billion in tourism revenue.

  48. [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System could deter 41 million tourists and cost $45 billion

    EU’s new Entry/Exit System may deter up to 41 million tourists, risking $45 bn in lost spending; 65 % support the system but long waits could push travelers from the UK, US, Canada and Australia to avoid Europe

  49. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System faces summer border delays, tourism concern

    The EU's Entry/Exit System is causing summer border bottlenecks, prompting Croatia to allow up to six‑hour biometric relief and tourism groups warning up to 41 million visitors may skip Europe if waits exceed 3

  50. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Evzoni border crossing jam disrupts Balkan summer travel

    June 1 saw major jams at the Evzoni border between North Macedonia and Greece, with power cuts and limited lanes causing hour‑long waits; Serbian tourism officials cite holiday traffic and recommend alternative

  51. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System Delays UK Travelers at European Airports

    The EU’s new Entry/Exit System, in force from April 2026, adds fingerprint and photo checks for non‑EU travelers, causing extended passport‑control queues and missed flights for UK passengers, prompting alerts‑

  52. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Portugal airlines urge EU flexibility to avoid summer airport queues

    Portugal’s airline group warns summer airport queues may return despite recent staff and e‑gate boosts, urging EU flexibility on the Entry‑Exit System to protect tourism.

  53. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Portugal to Deploy 340 PSP Officers to Airports for Faster Border Checks

    Portugal will add 340 PSP officers to its airports on 4 July—140 to Lisbon, 100 to Porto, others to Faro, Funchal and Ponta Delgada—to speed up border checks amid tourism growth and recent queue issues.

  54. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Greece to Permit Temporary EES Use Without Biometric Data Amid Border Congestion

    Greece’s deputy minister said the EU Entry/Exit System can temporarily operate without biometric data during extreme border traffic, a suspension valid until 8 July 2026 and extendable to 6 Sept.

  55. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    UK Holidaymakers Urged to Follow Passport Photo Rules and Fast‑Track EU Border Checks

    UK travellers must meet detailed passport photo rules, while EU biometric checks are lengthening airport queues, prompting advice to prioritize passport control and arrive early.

  56. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Lisbon Airport Delays Spike as New EU Entry/Exit System Falters

    Lisbon Airport suffers up to six‑hour delays due to the failing EU Entry/Exit System, prompting calls for procedural suspension and new police deployments, says lawmaker Luís Montenegro.

  57. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Greece's new EES border checks and food restrictions impact Serbian travelers

    Greece's new EES border system slows bus traffic while cars clear quickly, and strict food import bans on animal products affect Serbian tourists.

  58. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    EU Entry-Exit System (EES) Sparks Long Airport Queues Across Europe

    EU's new Entry‑Exit System (EES) is causing two‑hour airport queues, missed flights and airline advisories for early arrival across Europe.

  59. [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Lisbon Airport Chaos Linked to EU Entry/Exit System Delays

    EU's Entry/Exit System is causing passport‑control queues of up to 3½ hours at Lisbon and other airports, prompting airlines to advise three‑hour arrivals and governments to add staff.

  60. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Portugal's PSP processes 52,000 airport passengers and imposes 16 Schengen precautionary measures

    Portugal's PSP checked about 52,000 airport passengers, made 56 interceptions and applied 16 Schengen precautionary measures, with varied wait times across Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports.

  61. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Greece’s Evzones border checkpoint hit by hours‑long queues after EU biometric rollout

    Thousands of drivers faced up to five‑hour delays at Greece’s Evzones border on 30 May after the EU’s new biometric entry‑exit system was fully implemented, though queues eased by midday.

  62. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Portugal to suspend airport biometric checks as border queues lengthen

    Portugal reports long airport border queues and plans to suspend biometric checks temporarily, with EU approval, after boosting staff and e‑gates to cut wait times by 50%.

  63. [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    Greece moves to ease border delays as EU digital entry system creates long queues

    Greece plans IT upgrades and temporary solutions to reduce border queues caused by the EU Entry/Exit System, which has slowed Macedonian travelers at crossings like Bogorodica.

  64. [BUSINESS] 13 sources
    Lisbon Airport queues raise concerns for Portugal's tourism sector

    Long queues at Lisbon Airport risk harming Portugal’s tourism appeal in non‑Schengen markets, prompting calls for operational upgrades.

  65. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Portugal tourism body receives government pledge to end airport queues

    Portugal’s tourism confederation said the interior minister pledged swift action—extra police and coordination with ANA—to cut airport queues caused by the EU Entry/Exit System before the summer peak.

  66. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    EU's New Entry System Raises Fees and Controls, Boosting Vilnius Appeal

    EU's new biometric entry system raises fees and controls, prompting tourists to consider quieter Vilnius.

  67. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Lisbon Airport border control system experiences computer failure, manual checks activated

    A computer fault at Lisbon Airport on 19 May halted automatic border checks, prompting manual processing and passenger delays.

  68. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro cites economic growth as airport chaos erupts over new EU border system

    PM Luís Montenegro praised Portugal’s economic gains while confronting airport delays from a new EU border system, considering suspension.

  69. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System causes major delays for British travelers

    EU's new biometric Entry/Exit System leaves British travelers stuck in long airport queues, costing time and money.

  70. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Portugal and Italy retain EU border checks for British travelers as Greece pauses

    Portugal and Italy will not suspend EU Entry‑Exit System checks for Britons, unlike Greece which has paused them.

  71. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    EU Entry/Exit System triggers airport delays, prompting Greece and others to suspend biometric checks

    EU's new Entry/Exit System is live but causing airport queues; Greece, Portugal and others temporarily suspend biometric checks.

  72. [POLITICS] 11 sources
    Greece, Portugal and Italy halt EU biometric border checks for UK tourists

    Greece, Portugal and Italy suspend EU biometric checks for UK tourists to prevent delays and protect tourism.

  73. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    UK red passport holders face summer travel restrictions as Italy and Portugal relax border rules

    UK warns red‑passport travelers may be denied entry this summer; Italy and Portugal will let tourists enter with just a passport stamp.

  74. [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Country drops EU biometric checks for British holidaymakers amid new entry-exit rules

    Country drops EU biometric checks for British holidaymakers as EU entry-exit rules require fingerprints and facial biometrics for UK travellers to Schengen.

Sources

072info.com · 24-ore.com · 4jewish.com · 6yka.com · a1on.mk · abc-sport.sk · abcnews.al · acnews.hu · adevarul.ro · aeiou.pt · agerpres.ro · airinfo.org · aktual24.ro · aktuelno.me · albinfo.ch · alfa.mk · alfavita.gr · apartheidmonitor.palestine-studies.org · arbresh.info · artstudios.co.uk · arynews.tv · ashconferences.org · askanews.it · assodigitale.it · atomicbird.com · bagimsizhavacilar.com · bani.md · barnetsverden.dk · baskentgazete.com.tr · basketballmalaysia.com · beautynewsnyc.com · bellenews.com · beveiligingnieuws.nl · biblioteca.pucrs.br · bigportal.ba · biometricupdate.com · birminghammail.co.uk · bizlife.rs · bizniscg.me · biznisvesti.mk · blikk.hu · blogsicilia.it · boacamaboamesa.expresso.pt · brasilemfolhas.com.br · brevis.hr · bristolpost.co.uk · bug.ba · bursahakimiyet.com.tr

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history