British officials and travel industry representatives are calling for a temporary suspension of the European Union’s entry-exit system, known as EES, as peak summer holiday travel begins. The system requires non-EU citizens, including British travelers, to be photographed and fingerprinted upon arrival in European countries. An estimated 2.2 million UK holidaymakers are expected to travel abroad between Friday and Monday as the summer school break commences, with Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Turkey among the most popular destinations.
The Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson, Calum Miller, has specifically called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to contact EU leaders and request a suspension of the system through at least September. Miller characterized the EES as a “bungled, malfunctioning border system” and argued that British travelers should not face disruptions caused by technical failures beyond their control. The EES has been in full force since April following its launch the previous year, though border authorities have previously relaxed enforcement during periods of extreme delays.
There have been reports of passengers missing flights and experiencing multi-hour queues at border checkpoints. The travel industry group Abta has advised passengers to allow extra time for their journeys, noting that many British travelers will be experiencing EES checks for the first time. Greece has already indicated it will not impose the additional biometric checks on UK nationals, while France has experienced technical problems with automated processing booths at its borders.
The UK government’s transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has held meetings with EU officials to raise concerns about the system. A government statement acknowledged that while the EES is an EU matter, the UK recognizes it represents a significant change for British travelers and is providing financial support for facilities and traffic management, particularly at the port of Dover. The airline EasyJet has urged the EU to extend flexibility in enforcing the system through the end of October, while ferry operators have reported relatively smooth traffic flow so far despite peak travel periods.
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