British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been called upon to directly engage with European Union leadership to request a temporary suspension of the Entry-Exit System, a newly implemented border control mechanism affecting non-EU citizens entering the bloc.
The push for intervention comes as approximately 2.2 million British travelers are anticipated to depart for overseas destinations between Friday and Monday, with the majority heading to European countries. The timing coincides with the start of the school summer holidays across the UK. Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller made the appeal at Heathrow airport, characterizing the EES as a “bungled, malfunctioning border system” and suggesting a suspension lasting until at least September.
The EES requires non-EU visitors to complete registration procedures upon arrival, including biometric collection through photography and fingerprinting. While the system officially entered full operation in April following its launch the previous year, border authorities have exercised discretion in relaxing enforcement protocols during periods of severe congestion. Despite such flexibility, reports indicate some passengers have experienced missed flights and extended queue times spanning multiple hours.
Popular European destinations for this weekend’s travel include Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey, according to travel industry representatives. Some EU nations have adopted varying approaches to implementation, with Greece signaling it will forgo additional biometric procedures for UK nationals, while France faces technical obstacles preventing automated border processing systems from functioning properly.
Transport authorities in the UK have coordinated with French counterparts and European commissioners to address concerns. The government is providing financial support for EES infrastructure and traffic management at major transit points like Dover. Current conditions at the port have remained manageable, with queuing times reported between 10 and 40 minutes, though peak congestion is anticipated on consecutive days. Airlines including EasyJet have independently requested that the EU extend operational flexibility through the end of October.
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