MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move this week, with 572 in support, 42 against and 67 abstentions
The European Union has confirmed that its long-awaited biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin a phased rollout in the coming months, marking an end to years of delays and false starts.
MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move this week, with 572 in support, 42 against and 67 abstentions. The approval sets a 180-day deadline for the gradual deployment of the system, designed to tighten border controls and speed up crossings for travellers entering the bloc.
Rather than launching the EES simultaneously across all member states, officials have opted for a staggered approach in a bid to prevent technical bottlenecks and overcrowding at border posts. Countries will be permitted to roll out the system ahead of the deadline if they are ready to do so.
The new checks will record biometric and biographic data from travellers entering the EU from outside the Schengen Area, including face and fingerprint scans. Supporters say the system will cut down on visa overstays and improve the accuracy of records, but some border agencies have warned it could lead to delays—at least in the short term.
In the UK, preparations are under way to handle the expected impact, with face and fingerprint self-service kiosks being installed at several border crossings. The changes are being closely watched in England, where large numbers of British citizens travel to the EU each year for work, tourism and family visits.
A new mobile app—Travel to Europe—has been developed by biometric firms iProov and Inverid to allow passengers to pre-register their details before arriving at the border. The app will be trialled at Sweden’s Arlanda Airport when the system goes live this autumn.
Under the current schedule, 10% of border crossings are expected to be registered through the new system within the first 30 days of launch. That figure will rise to 25% after 90 days, with full coverage due by day 170. However, if long queues or technical issues emerge, national authorities will have the option to temporarily pause deployments.
The EU’s digital agency, eu-LISA, will now have 30 days to finalise the central deployment strategy, with member states given 60 days to produce their own national rollout plans. Once published in the Official Journal of the EU, the new law will come into force three days later. While the European Council must still give formal approval, that step is widely seen as a formality after agreement was reached in May.
The EES was originally set to launch in 2022 but has faced multiple delays due to technical readiness and political coordination. If successful, the scheme will form a key part of the EU’s broader efforts to modernise its external borders and strengthen its digital infrastructure.
