European Union countries agreed on Wednesday to finally operationalise the Entry-Exit System (EES), an automated registry for short-term travellers that has been repeatedly delayed due to technical problems and lack of readiness.
The agreement reached by interior ministers in Brussels paves the way for the system’s likely launch in the autumn, although no specific date has yet been set.
Member States will now have two options: to launch the new system all at once or to launch it in phases over a six-month transition period. At the end of the transition period, all border crossing registrations must be carried out under the EES.
The phased approach was not foreseen in the original legislation. However, after a comprehensive meeting in November, it was put forward as a viable alternative to break the protracted impasse and implement the long-awaited system.
Poland, the country that currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, will lead negotiations with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement on the amended law, which is expected to happen smoothly.
“October is our horizon,” Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s interior and administration minister, said Wednesday morning.
The system “will give the services of the member states completely new tools for police and border guards to control who enters and leaves the Schengen area. This is an absolutely essential issue.”
Main functions of the system
The EES is designed to track the entries, exits and length of stay of foreign nationals in the Schengen area. The main functions of the system include:
- Digital registration: The system replaces the traditional stamping of passports with automatic digital record keeping of every border crossing. This allows for a much simplified control process.
- Biometric data collection: All third-country nationals crossing the border will be required to undergo fingerprint scanning and facial photography. This biometric data will enable accurate identification of travellers and prevent fraud.
- Automatic calculation of the length of stay: The system automatically calculates how many days a traveller has spent in the Schengen area. This is especially important for those travelling under the 90-day visa-free regime to avoid exceeding the allowed length of stay.
Why the EES was introduced
The European Union is introducing the EES to improve security, combat illegal migration and ensure stricter enforcement of visa regulations. The system is designed to facilitate the work of border guards, improve the management of entry and exit flows and reduce the risk of exceeding the authorised period of stay, especially for short-term visas.
The EES system also allows the EU to better manage migration flows and to track individuals who stay in the Schengen area longer than the authorised period of stay. This is particularly relevant for countries such as Spain, where there is a high annual tourist and migration flow.
