The European Union's entry-exit system (EES) has been postponed once again, just ahead of its planned rollout on November 10th.
The scheme would have required third-country nationals, including visitors from Jersey and Guernsey, to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics upon entering the EU at every border point in the Schengen zone, including St Malo. However, the European Commission has delayed the program until an unspecified date in 2025 due to concerns from the travel industry regarding potential delays at borders.
Ylva Johansson, the EU's Commissioner for Home Affairs, announced the delay after a meeting with EU interior ministers, during which France, Germany, and the Netherlands voiced concerns that preparations for the project were not sufficiently advanced. "The 10th of November is no longer on the table," she stated, adding, "I hope we can start as soon as possible, but there's no new timeline yet."
The introduction of the EES has faced multiple delays since its inception in 2016 and is intended to modernise checks at the EU's external borders by replacing the traditional passport rubber-stamping process.
All EU member states, along with four Schengen-associated countries—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—are expected to participate in the scheme, with the exceptions of Ireland and Cyprus.