Launch of biometric entry checks at EU borders delayed for third time

New biometric entry-check systems for non-EU citizens – set to debut on November 10th – will be delayed for the third time this year after three EU nations announced on Wednesday that their IT infrastructure is not ready to handle the new systems.

Instead, the three nations – Germany, France, and the Netherlands – told the EU Migration and Home Affairs department this week that their border computer systems were not ready for the planned November launch.

A spokesperson for the German interior ministry said the trio has expressed concerns over the lack of stability and functionality of the central computer system managed by eu-LISA, the agency responsible for the implementation of large-scale IT systems within the EU.

The French interior ministry said that, while France was convinced of the usefulness of EES, its introduction must be prepared properly.

The EU member states also say they have not had enough time to properly test the system. The Dutch government did not comment on the latest delay.

“Launching the system without having fully tested it is a huge risk, potentially leading to widespread disruptions across the European air transport network,” ACI Europe's Olivier Jankovec, head of the airport trade group, told the Financial Times.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters Wednesday that the "November 10th launch is no longer on the table."

Johansson said there was currently no new timetable, but the possibility of a phased introduction was being looked into.

EU officials had initially wanted to set a launch date of September 2021. That date eventually became October 6th, 2024, and again pushed out until November 10th, according to the site BiometricUpdate.com

“The Commission added a “last resort” backup date of November 17th, 2024, “ the media outlet said, but after Johansson’s comments that seems unlikely to happen.

Fingerprints and facial recognition

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens arriving in the Schengen free-travel area to register their fingerprints, provide a facial scan, and answer questions about their stay.

The system was designed so that travelers entering the EU could confirm their identity by simply linking their travel documents to their biometric readings, thus removing the need for agents to manually stamp a traveler's passport upon entry.

Travelers heading to Germany, France, and the Netherlands make up about 40% of the passenger traffic that will be required to use the system.

Officials across Europe have expressed concerns the EES system could cause significant delays and long lines for travelers. Others worry about the security and privacy of travelers biometric data getting into the wrong hands.

If you’re heading to Europe soon, you will need to complete extra checks at the EU border.

Your fingerprints and photo will be required and there may be increased wait times.

Find out more about #EES at: https://t.co/FQcMPLBWZd pic.twitter.com/VLEJ86zDx4

undefined FCDO Travel Advice (@FCDOtravelGovUK) October 7, 2024

Besides non-EU nationals, the EES will also require Brits to register their biometric information the first time they cross the border. This initial registration process must be completed in person at the port or station.

The UK, which has already been using the technology at airports nationwide, experienced hours-long lines at its passport E-gates in May after a nationwide glitch caused the biometric system to temporarily stop working, preventing travelers from boarding their flights.

By 2026, it is expected that more than half of airports in the world will be using biometric recognition technologies.

Eurostar introduced biometric check-in on its trains in 2023. The SmartCheck system allows passengers to get their tickets, passports, and faces checked before they travel using a mobile app.

Additionally, there are currently 93 airports in the US already using facial recognition technology to enter boarding gate areas, according to the Transportation Security Administration.