[REVISION HISTORY]

EU EES implementation and Schengen delays

Updated 25 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-12 13:21 UTC → 2026-10-13 08:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The implementation of the European Union’s new Entry Exit System (EES) continues to face operational challenges. The digital system, which replaces manual passport stamping with biometric data collection, has caused significant increases in border control waiting times at major hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Munich. Following the expiration of the 150-day grace period on September 6, 2026, nine Schengen countries—France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Portugal, and Switzerland—are delaying full implementation. This delay follows pressure from airlines and logistics groups, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who warned that mandatory biometric collection could trigger travel chaos. While the official grace period has ended, the European Commission has authorized these nine nations to delay full biometric enforcement until the end of 2026 to safeguard traffic fluidity. Technical difficulties persist, including software errors and a shortage of trained personnel. Recent reports indicate that passport processing times have increased from approximately 25 seconds to 90 seconds per traveler, leading to queues of up to 120 minutes at major hubs. At Brussels Airport Zaventem, passengers have recently experienced waits of up to five hours. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin noted that while police personnel have been deployed, existing airport infrastructure struggles to handle current volumes. Specifically, peak morning flows can reach 3,500 passengers per hour against a processing capacity of only 500 to 600. ~~Despite these hurdles, the system has reached a significant milestone. European Commissioner for Home Affairs~~ One year after implementation, industry groups ACI Europe and ~~Migration, Magnus Bruner, reported~~ Airlines for Europe (A4E) report that ~~the~~ waiting times frequently exceed two hours and can reach up to five hours during peak traffic, particularly in Italy and Spain. The EES has ~~recorded approximately 210~~ now processed over 225 million entries by non-EU citizens since becoming fully operational on April 10, 2026. The system has also facilitated security enforcement, with approximately 70,000 individuals denied entry due to documentation issues, including roughly 2,000 identified as security risks linked to terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime. individual crossings.

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