The European Union has once again postponed its biometric border plan, with indications that the demand for fingerprints may even be scrapped. Initially set to launch on 10th November, the entry-exit system (EES) requiring third-country nationals to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics upon entry into the Schengen Area has faced multiple delays.
EU Home Affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson had declared the ambitious border plan would be implemented at all frontier posts, including those from the Arctic to the Aegean. However, concerns from countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands led to a reassessment of the project. A pilot programme for the EES is now expected to begin in 2025, with potential changes in the requirement for fingerprints.
Following a meeting on 10th October, the European Commission revealed plans to roll out the EES gradually to ensure a smooth transition. This approach involves possible pilot schemes at medium-sized airports, ports, and land frontiers, with details to be finalised in the coming weeks. The late decision has left the travel industry relieved yet frustrated, as preparations worth hundreds of millions of pounds had been made for the original November launch date.
Moreover, there have been alterations to the system, with a shift in wording to suggest that fingerprint and facial biometrics could be alternatives instead of mandatory requirements. This revision aims to “scan the fingerprints or take a photo of those crossing the border for the first time,” as opposed to the initial plan of obtaining both sets of biometric data from travellers.
EU Home Affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson mentioned that the 10th November launch date is no longer feasible, and the new timeline is pending a legal assessment. Concerns about the system’s resilience have prompted a step-by-step approach rather than a simultaneous rollout across all border crossing points. The Port of Dover has already begun construction of a canopy to facilitate biometric checks for motorists travelling to Europe.
The UK has invested over £100 million in readiness for the EES, which is crucial for the Etias “euro-visa” scheme. With the EES and Etias projects initiated in 2014 during the UK’s EU membership, post-Brexit negotiations ensured that British travellers would be subject to these systems. However, the indefinite postponement and potential changes to the biometric requirements signal further uncertainties surrounding the implementation of the border plan.