The Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson has called on the prime minister to engage directly with European leaders regarding the suspension of the EES, a biometric entry-exit system that has been causing significant delays at EU borders.
The system, which requires non-EU citizens to register, provide photographs, and submit fingerprints upon arrival, officially came into full force in April following its launch the previous year. Although border authorities have been permitted to relax enforcement during periods of extreme congestion, travelers have continued to experience substantial wait times, with some missing flights.
With approximately 2.2 million British holidaymakers anticipated to travel between Friday and Monday as schools begin their summer break, Spain is expected to be the primary destination, alongside Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey. The travel industry has advised passengers to allow extra time for their journeys, as this represents the first exposure to the system for many travelers.
Government officials have acknowledged the situation and taken steps to address it. The transport secretary has held meetings with EU commissioners and counterparts in France, while the government has allocated funding for EES facilities and traffic management at the port of Dover. France has implemented a workaround for ferry and Eurotunnel travelers, declining to fingerprint or photograph car passengers, resulting in relatively smooth cross-Channel traffic flow thus far. Greece has similarly indicated it will not apply full biometric checks to UK nationals.
Despite these measures, concerns remain regarding return flights to the UK, with some airlines calling for an extension of the current flexibility through the end of October to better manage the volume of travelers during peak holiday periods.
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