New EU border control checks to launch November 10 - official

November 10 is the EU’s official ‘target day’ for the start of the Entry/Exit System (EES), an EU commissioner has revealed.

This is the first time that a specific date has been given by the EU, which has previously referred to “the autumn” for the start of the new digital system of checks on non-EU citizens entering and leaving the Schengen area on short visits.

The announcement confirms inside information in the travel industry, which has recently been predicting a November 10 launch (or November 17 at the latest).

Read more: New delay for EU biometric border controls reported 

EES will involve non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens coming for short stays in the Schengen area having to have a facial image and fingerprints taken, provide passport data and have their entry and exit time and place logged. 

It will not affect people with long-stay visas or residency cards but families with under-18s face new paperwork requirements nonetheless. 

It was originally planned for 2022, but has been subject to several delays linked to difficulties preparing the EU-wide IT infrastructure as well as new equipment at travel hubs such as airports and ports. 

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said: “After intense dialogues with member states, with EU-Lisa [the EU agency in charge of the infrastructure], with the different stakeholders – I have decided that the EES will enter into operations on November 10.

“Different steps are legally required before the Commission could take the formal decision, but I am proud to reveal today that November 10 is the target day.”

Ms Johansson announced this in a speech to EU-Lisa.

She said the process has been “a marathon” and has meant “difficult work, pressure, stress, long hours, sacrifices” for those involved.

“But the finishing line is in sight,” she said. “Now we’re getting ready for the final sprint: November 10, that will be a great day. Entry/Exit System Day.”

She said transport companies, stations, airports and others are all getting ready for “the big day” and “there is real momentum now”, with final tests being done.

The systems would, she claimed, make travel easier and border checks gradually faster as passport stamping ends.

EU citizens would also “sleep safer” knowing “exactly who enters the Schengen area with a foreign passport”.

“We will know if people stay too long, countering irregular migration. And the EES will make it harder for criminals, terrorists or Russian spies to use fake passports.

“Thanks to biometric identification: photos and fingerprints, there'll be an immediate warning: This person is not who he says he is.”

The UK’s Home Office, which is involved in preparations as some French border checks take place on UK soil, has stated that the EU is looking at a relatively ‘soft launch’, involving ‘precautionary measures’ for the first six months, such as not taking biometric data from all passengers at busy times. 

Read more: UK/EU border plans ‘completely unsatisfactory’ ministers told 

However, this has not yet been officially confirmed by the EU.

No update has been given as to the readiness of a mobile phone app being prepared by the EU, intended to help reduce queues by allowing users to submit some data before they arrive at the border.