E-gates updated in France as launch
of EES checks approaches
Progress continues towards October start of delayed border checks
Updates are being made to the Parafe passport e-gates in large airports and Eurostar Eurotunnel terminals
Shutterstock/Franck Poupart
Good progress is being made towards a hoped-for October start for the EU’s delayed EES digital borders system for non-EU visitors – but MEPs are reiterating the urgency of France and other countries declaring their readiness.
Updates are being made to the Parafe passport e-gates in large airports and Eurostar Eurotunnel terminals, so non-EU visitors from many countries, including the US and UK, will be able to use these on entry and exit – apart from their first entry/exit, when their database entry is created.
Assita Kanko (Belgium), in charge of the dossier at the European Parliament, told The Connexion: “The start in October will depend more on the ‘declaration of readiness’ of the three member states that are late than the parliament, as the general tendency is positive on our side.”
She said a ‘shadow meeting’ was held in April to discuss the proposed progressive start among the different political groups.
This proposal from the European Commission means the system is now expected to start at some border points and not others and/or with only some visitors and not others checked.
The number of points/visitors will, it is planned, increase over six months to full capacity.
The European Council of member state ministers adopted a proposed new EU law permitting this in March and the parliament has also been finalising a tweaked version.
Representatives of both will hold meetings to agree on the final text.
“Everything is going relatively well and a first trilogue [joint negotiation between the parliament, European Council and European Commission] is planned for May 12, after a vote on April 23 by the [EU parliament’s justice and home affairs] committee,” Ms Kanko said.
Her assistant, Joris Walraet, said the parliament expects to ask for only minor compromises” that do not alter the substance of what has been proposed.
“It is likely to endorse the phased implementation over a 180-day period. Negotiations have been progressing smoothly, with only a few technical elements still being finalised in consultation with legal services.
“At this stage, the most important request from the parliament is that the three remaining member states – France, Germany and the Netherlands – submit their official declarations of readiness.
“This is a key condition to ensure the timely and coordinated rollout of the EES.”
We asked the Interior Ministry if there is news of France’s ‘readiness’ but did not receive a reply. It was this issue, plus a lack of confidence over the ‘resilience’ of the central IT systems, that led to the last planned launch date, November 10, 2024, being missed.
EES app rollout
Uncertainty still remains over France’s adoption of the ‘Travel to Europe’ app that EU borders agency Frontex has developed to help visitors complete some required information before they arrive.
Countries are free to use it or not, and may adapt it for their use.
Meanwhile, airports body the Union des Aéroports Français (UAF) reports working with the government to ease queuing for foreign residents in France.
The adjustments to the Parafe gates for non-EU visitors, in combination with preregistration kiosks, should help these travellers avoid queuing to see a border guard.
However, there is a risk that the same nationals who live in France will not be able to use them, as they now can, if there is no way for the systems to recognise them as residents, not requiring registration in the EES.
A UAF legal expert said: “French authorities are carrying out legal and technical work with a view to making this [recognition of residents’ status by the Parafes] possible in due course.
“There remain, however, obstacles to deal with – especially with regards to Cnil [data protection authority] and the Conseil d’état [top administrative authority] relating to regulatory aspects.
“That makes it impossible to give a calendar for when it will be put in place.”
He added: “French airports have the same objective of maintaining this simplified border route via the Parafes for third-country [non-EU] citizens who are long-term residents, and in recent months we have had regular exchanges with the authorities to optimise all possible passenger routes, depending on the type of traveller.”
