Several European Union member countries, including France, Greece, Portugal, and Italy, have postponed the full introduction of biometric fingerprint checks for non-EU travelers under the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES). The program, designed to enhance border security and track visitor movements, had been scheduled to become fully operational in September 2023 but faced repeated delays.
These nine nations have formally requested additional time from Brussels to implement the biometric controls amid concerns about congestion and logistical readiness, particularly at major airports. Other countries seeking extra time include Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium. Meanwhile, Spain has moved forward with full EES deployment despite initial difficulties.
Scope and Status of the Entry-Exit System
The EES, adopted by the EU in 2017 and launched in October 2022, requires the collection of fingerprints and facial images of third-country nationals to better monitor entries and exits within the Schengen area. As of June, the system registered about 200 million travelers and flagged around 70,000 individuals attempting to enter the EU improperly—up from 43,700 earlier that year. This group includes those without visas, travelers exceeding permitted stay durations, and criminals using forged documents identified through biometric checks.
Although fingerprinting is active at major hubs like Frankfurt and Schiphol airports and at the Eurostar terminal in Brussels, smaller airports in several of the delaying countries are not yet fully equipped for biometric capture. Only about 12 out of 1,500 EU border points continue to experience implementation issues, but these can affect peak travel times and passenger flow.
Challenges and Operational Concerns
Operational bottlenecks have driven the delays in rolling out the EES at some locations. For example, a small regional airport faced challenges processing up to 3,000 passengers per hour with only four biometric booths available. Industry groups like the International Air Transport Association criticized the system earlier this summer, citing missed flight connections and long queues in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Belgium. Low-cost airline Ryanair described conditions at Malaga and Palma airports as potentially chaotic due to new procedures.
France has also yet to introduce biometric checks at the Port of Dover, where French police have a unique role in performing border controls in the United Kingdom. Technically, delay in implementing the biometric checks constitutes a violation of EU regulations, but Brussels has indicated it will not pursue prosecutions against the member states involved.
Future Developments and Digital Pre-Authorization
To facilitate smoother processing, the EU has developed a pre-authorization application called Travel to Europe, allowing travelers to submit biometric data and passport information before arriving. Currently, this system is operational in Sweden and Portugal, with plans to expand to seven additional countries soon. The app aims to reduce wait times and ease pressure at entry points as the program moves toward full deployment.
Overall, while the EES faces implementation hurdles in some EU states, it is regarded as a success for strengthening border security and managing irregular migration. The additional rollout time requested by busy travel destinations is intended to ensure a more effective and less disruptive introduction of the biometric system ahead of major events, such as the 2024 Olympics.
