EU countries have refused to say whether they are introducing a new border system that could leave British holidaymakers facing huge airport delays. The Home Office had asked for a list of airports that will introduce the Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires passengers to have their passports scanned and their fingerprints and photographs taken.
But Brussels and EU member states have refused to provide a definitive list, leaving the UK in the dark over potentially huge delays for travellers. The UK does not know how many airports will be introducing the new checks on Sunday, the Daily Express understands. From Sunday, British passport holders will need to register on their first visit to a country where EES checks are operating.
Minister for border security and asylum, Alex Norris, said: “We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible.
“The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders, and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.”
Minister for aviation, maritime and decarbonisation, Keir Mather, said: “We’ve backed our ports and operators with £10.5million to help them get ready for the EU’s new Entry/Exit System, ensuring they have the infrastructure and systems in place to manage the changes.
“Our priority is to minimise disruption for travellers and hauliers, particularly at our busiest border crossings. We’ll continue working closely with European partners and local resilience forums to keep traffic flowing and journeys smooth.”
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
