Entry/Exit System fingerprint registration
EES will intensify strict rules for travelling to Europe from October. With the amount of time taken to implement the system, Brussels has agreed to a phased rollout instead of the “big bang” launch planned in November 2022. The rollout will still be conducted in a “progressive” manner whilst in a 6 month transition period, as UK travellers without EU passports will have to register their fingerprints or have pictures taken on arrival in the bloc. The scheme will replace passport stamps in an era of more digitally enabled crime.
The scheme was agreed by an EU committee this week.
Europe wants to reap the benefits now after implementing such critical IT infrastructure proved to be a mighty and untenable task due to challenges with contractors and interoperability. Some members states were not prepared and fell to the back of the “class”, according to Assita Kanko, the Belgian conservative MEP.
Addressing stakeholders at Identity Week Europe in 2023, Claudio Kavrecic of Frontex said at the time additional training was needed for border guards and physical infrastructure needed supervision to facilitate safe and secure border crossing.
The timeline of EU information systems starts with the delayed Entry/Exit System, expected in October 2025, and then ETIAS, the equivalent of ETA.
Fraud warnings of ETIAS
Travellers are being reminded about the order of which border management systems will launch through 2025/2026 amid warnings of imitation websites emerging advertising early access to ETIAS when the system won’t even go live until late 2026.
The hold-up of EU travel rules has emboldened fraudsters to pry on the confusion of travellers. The EU has outlined all advancing travel border management programmes, however, the ETIAS can not be started until the delivery date of the Entry/Exit System, which mandates facial and fingerprint recognition scans.
ETIAS clearance will be required for British travellers arriving into EU countries.
Part of confusion has to be blamed on constant delays of the roadmaps to implement these systems.
