Questions and answers on the Progressive Start of Europe’s New Digital Border System*

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

What is the Entry/Exit System?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a key step to achieving a European digitalised border control, further reinforcing the EU’s approach to integrated border management. It is the cornerstone of the interoperability architecture, which will allow all border and security information systems to communicate together.

Concretely, the EES is an automated IT system that registers non-EU nationals who travel for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of these EU Member States and Schengen associated countries.

The system will digitally record the person’s name, travel document, biometric data, such as fingerprints and captured facial images and the date and place of entry and exit. It will also record refusals of entry.

The EES will replace the current system of passport stamping, provide reliable data on border crossings and allow for systematic detection of overstayers. The EES will thus modernise the management of the external borders and strengthen the security of the Schengen area – by reducing identity fraud and making it easier to identify visa overstayers. It will also allow the automation of border controls, progressively accelerating the checks at the external borders, facilitating travel and improving travellers’ experience.

More information on EES is available on the official website, ‘Travel Europe’.

What are the main components of the progressive approach?

The proposal foresees a progressive start of operations of the EES over a period of six months. In practice, that means that all Member States will start operating the EES from day one at one or more border crossing points. Border authorities will progressively register in the system the data of third country nationals crossing the borders, starting with at least 10% of border crossings, and reaching full registration of all individuals by the end of the six months period.

During this period, travellers’ data will be electronically recorded only at the borders where the EES will operate. In parallel, passports will continue being stamped at all borders.

Member States and eu-LISA will set out roll-out plans, defining the details of the progressive entry into operation at central and national level, and Member States will report on their progress to the Commission and eu-LISA on a monthly basis.

Member States who wish to start operating the EES fully from day one will be able to do so. After the six months period, the EES should be fully implemented across all Member States.

What are the benefits of a progressive approach?

Member States can start benefitting from the advantages and capabilities of the system from day one. In addition, it offers them flexibility to adjust their procedures, better prepare their borders and manage the flows of travellers.

Travellers will progressively experience improved and more efficient digital border checks, automated procedures and reduced waiting times at the borders.

Border authorities and the transport industry will also have more time to adjust to the new procedures. Finally, this proposal will preserve the efforts and investments made by eu-LISA, Member States and other stakeholders in infrastructure, technology and resources to prepare for the EES.

Why did the Commission propose a progressive start of operations for the Entry-Exit System (EES)?

Member States, eu-LISA and the Commission have made significant efforts to launch the EES before the end of 2024 (as endorsed by the Justice and Home Affairs Council in October 2023). However, the implementation of a large-scale IT system like EES is a complex operation and delays could not be completely excluded.

At the Home Affairs Council on 10 October 2024 the Commission informed that it had not yet received the required declarations of readiness from all Member States, which is a legal requirement to be able to start the operation of the system. 

A progressive entry into operation of EES was therefore considered as the best way forward for swift progress. However, the current EES Regulation only allows for a full start of operations, and it does not offer flexibility to Member States to address remaining challenges while already operating the EES. The Commission has therefore put forward a proposal for a progressive entry into operation of EES.

The proposal offers flexibility to Member States to roll out the EES according to their capabilities while respecting the minimum thresholds established by the EES Regulation. At the same time, those Member States who are ready to start using the EES fully from day one will be able to do so. This would allow for a period of adjustment for authorities and travellers, while ensuring the security and efficiency of border checks at the external borders.

It will also include the possibility to temporarily suspend the system in case of disruptions. Member States will also be able to skip the collection of biometric data in exceptional circumstances, enabling them to tackle excessive waiting times at the borders, without compromising on the security. This approach was agreed at the JHA Council in October 2024.

How does the proposal address exceptional circumstances, such as technical problems or excessive waiting times? Will this resolve the issues raised by the transport industry e.g. related to the long queues?

Today’s proposal introduces the possibility to temporarily suspend the EES operations in case of technical failures or other disruptions at the borders. Temporarily suspending EES means stopping electronic registration of travellers’ data in the system, either by not recording their biometric data or not recording their data at all. By allowing for temporary suspension, the risk of long waiting times at the borders will be substantially reduced. However in no circumstances will security be compromised since the authorities will need to carry out the regular border checks as performed today. 

What are the costs to the EU budget for the EES?

The cost to the EU budget of the EES implementation was foreseen to be €480.2 million over four years in the impact assessment of the EESRegulation.

What are the next steps?

First, the proposal needs to be adopted by co-legislators. When the proposal is adopted and enters into force, the Commission will decide on the date of the progressive start of the EES, after having received all declarations of readiness from Member States. At the latest six months from the progressive launch, the EES will have to operate at its full capacity. To ensure a successful full operation of the EES, eu-LISA and Member States will have to elaborate plans to roll-out EES at central and national level. 

When can travellers expect the EES to be fully operational?

Travellers will be informed of the next steps through the EES website and directly at the borders. An information campaign will be launched prior to the start of operations.

What is the link with ETIAS?

The progressive start of the EES operations will be consistent with the application of the future European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). A revised planning of ETIAS will be discussed and agreed between the Commission, Member States and eu-LISA in the light of the expected entry into operations of the EES.

*Updated on 05/12/2024 at 16:30