The EU is hoping that its EES digital borders scheme will launch this October, it has been revealed.
No precise date has been announced and several legal hurdles still remain – but “October” was said to be a possibility if everything goes to plan. Hopes of the system being underway by November were also referred to.
These dates were mentioned at an EES discussion hosted by the ‘LIBE’ group that is responsible for work on the project at the European Parliament.
MEPs, EU council and commission representatives as well as EU-Lisa, the EU’s agency for large-scale IT projects which is overseeing the set-up of the central databases for storing EES passenger data, were present.
It comes after a previous target date of November 6, 2024 was missed amid failure of several states – including France – to give the required declarations of readiness, and also concerns over the “resilience” of the central IT systems set up to keep travellers’ data.
Read more: France one of countries officially ‘not ready’ for start of EES, delays expected
This was the latest of several postponements to the scheme, originally set to start in 2022.
It is now expected that EES (the European Entry/Exit System) will start in a ‘progressive’ way, over a six-month period, before it is fully operational for all non-EU/EEA/Swiss visitors to the Schengen area.
The linked ‘Etias’ scheme, for online pre-approval to visit the area, will start around six months afterwards.
Under EES non-EU visitors’ passport data, facial image and a fingerprint scan, and answers to short travel questions will be collected, and the dates of their entries and exits from the Schengen area will be logged. A telephone app is expected to help with some pre-registration although it will be up to each country to decide if they want to allow its use in their travel hubs.
Read more: App to ease new EES border controls is ready - how will it work?
Residents in France (with visas or residency cards) or other EU countries will not be concerned.
What does a progressive start mean?
A progressive start means that there would be a six-month (or 180 days) period during which the scheme would be ‘phased in’, so that it at first only concerns certain border points and not others, or only a limited number of relevant visitors.
Over the six months the amount of border points where the systems are used and/or visitor numbers checked would increase so that it is operational everywhere and for all visitors by the end of the period.
EU states said to support the progressive start
MEPs heard that the EU states now broadly agree with the commission’s proposed progressive start plan, which requires a new EU regulation to be adopted by the EU Council and EU parliament. Then, once all member states say they are ready, a start date will be announced.
Read more: Britons, Americans, other non-EU travellers - new problem for digital border checks
The commission’s deputy director general for migration and home affairs, Olivier Onidi, said: “We are fairly confident based on discussions that have taken place, the council [consisting of member state home affairs ministers] will have a common approach at the March [6] council.”
No states have questioned the proposals, he said. “This gives us a solid guarantee that we will finally now be in a position to move all together, at the same time, at slightly different paces during six months - but only six months.
“The fact that member states are engaging firmly in this common approach is a very strong signal that they are all now really serious and we will not be in a position in a few months’ time where one or other state will say they cannot confirm readiness.”
Mr Onidi added: “Etias needs to be fed by EES. If we manage to finally get the system to start its operations in October, it means Etias will only be available from March to April next year.”
During the discussions, Assita Kanko, in charge of the EES dossier at the European parliament, referred to “...November, when we hope to start the 180-day [progressive start] period”.
Read more: Port of Dover expects EU border controls to be in place in November
Final steps must now be taken
Ms Kanko (Belgium) said some delays are to be expected with such a “major system”.
“However, my sympathy for the member states is not endless. The world has not become safer since we adopted the EES legislation in 2017 and we cannot punish those states that have done their homework, such as my own, with endless delays.
“We need a stable system up, which other elements such as Etias can be built on.
“If 180 days for a progressive start are needed, I can support this, but I still have some concerns. There is no point doing this exercise if by June or July at the latest, we still don’t have all the declarations of readiness.”
Mr Nowak-Nova said they “will do our utmost” to avoid any further delays.
During the discussions Mr Onidi said the EU had “probably underestimated the costs on the [EU-Lisa] agency and member states” in getting EES under way.
He added: “All member states had seriously underestimated the investment needs, in hiring, training of guards, developing new procedures, purchasing new equipment…”
