EU fingerprint checks on Brits getting into Europe will trigger journey chaos
The government has asked Brussels to loosen the rules on border fingerprint checks amid fears it will cause travel chaos for British tourists entering Europe next summer.
Brits travelling to the EU from November 17 will have their fingerprints scanned, picture taken, and will have to show their passport when entering Europe for the first time.
But the UK government has voiced concerns that the new border system could wreak havoc on the roads in Dover when thousands of holidaymakers will have to undergo the biometric checks before crossing the Channel.
Dover is braced for delays of up to 14 hours, with Kent County Council warning jams could be ‘much worse’ than 23-mile tailbacks seen in 2022.
In a statement to the Commons, Seema Malhotra, the immigration minister, said the Government was lobbying the European Commission for extended emergency measures to allow French border officers to fast-track travellers during peak times.
Brits travelling to the EU from November 17 will have their fingerprints scanned, picture taken, and will have to show their passport when entering Europe for the first time. Pictured: Cars queue at the Port of Dover in Kent
The plans would mean border guards would not have to take fingerprint scans or photographs if there are ‘excessive’ queues at the Port of Dover.
But the measures are only proposed for the first six months after the new system is introduced, with Britain pleading to extend them beyond the summer holiday period when queues will be at their longest.
‘We believe that extending these beyond six months would improve throughput at the EU’s external border if queues form during peak periods in early 2025 due to the additional processing time required for EES,’ said Malhotra.
There are also fears disruption caused by the Entry Exit System (EES) launch could last even longer as an app allowing holidaymakers to register their details before travelling will not be ready until later in 2025.
The European Scrutiny Committee has heard evidence that the app to cut waiting times at ‘juxtaposed controls’ sites, such as at Dover, Eurotunnel or Eurostar at St Pancras Station, is facing delays owing to the complexities of aligning it between member states.
Malhotra added that EES would increase processing times at border crossings where UK travellers enter the Schengen Area.
‘Insufficient progress has been made on ensuring that these impacts (as well as other potential impacts) are minimised – with disruption likely when the scheme is introduced,’ she said.
‘This is particularly true for journeys involving travel through London St Pancras, Eurotunnel in Folkestone and the Port of Dover.’
Dover is braced for delays of up to 14 hours, with Kent County Council warning jams could be ‘much worse’ than 23-mile tailbacks seen in 2022
On Monday, the Home Office also announced new legislation that will see French border guards able to operate within an expanded border control zone at Dover to avoid the forming of long queues as holidaymakers undergo their biometric checks.
French border guards can currently only operate in the eastern docks, but the under the new legislation, they will be able to operate in the western docks where there will be specific facilities in place to deal with coach travellers.
The EES will collect personal data including first name, surname, date of birth, nationality, sex, travel document and the three-letter country code, with only children under 12 exempt.
It is an automated IT system that will track travellers from countries outside of the EU that are entering and leaving the European Union member states.
A hard launch date of November 17 has been put in pace, with no extension after that, with the date set to be formally confirmed at a Brussels meeting next week.
Christian Wigand, European Commission spokesperson, said: ‘The roadmap for the delivery of the new IT architecture foresees that the Entry/Exit system will be ready to enter into operation in autumn 2024 and that ETIAS [European Travel Information and Authorisation System] will be ready to enter into operation in spring 2025.
‘The exact date will be determined by the European Commission and announced on the EES official website well in time for the start of operations. At the moment we do not have a date to communicate’.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said: ‘The EU are introducing a new Entry/Exit system in the autumn and the new Government is reviewing the preparations that have been made so far.’
