The United Kingdom’s European Scrutiny Committee has launched a new inquiry into the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and the potential consequences its implementation will have on the UK’s border.
As soon as EES becomes fully operational, the system will replace manual passport stamping with an automated system and will register all travellers who enter and exit the Schengen Area.
According to the EU, EES will help introduce rules and regulations and prevent those who need a visa to enter the bloc from staying for more than 90 days within any 190-day period.
However, while the EU authorities welcome the launch of the EES, which is expected to enter into force in the autumn of next year, the UK authorities are fearing that the system will cause significant disruption, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Operators are also worried about disruptions at the UK port that operate ‘juxtaposed’ border controls.
Expressing his concerns on the matter, Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, Sir William Cash, said that the scale of potential disruptions has become more than evident on the visits that took place earlier this year to the Port of Dover and Folkestone.
The Committee had been keeping a watching brief on this issue, but the scale of potential disruption became apparent to us on our visits to the Port of Dover and Folkestone earlier this year. We quickly realised that this under-appreciated issue was one that deserved detailed scrutiny.
Sir William Cash further stressed that in July of this year, the Committee received alarming evidence from port operators. The latter said that the scheme could cause significant problems for cross-Channel transport.
For this reason, the Committee decided to make this inquiry and shed light on how the EES could affect tourists as well as businesses who have to cross the UK border.
While many problems may occur, Sir William Cash said that they find suggestions that day-trippers will have to leave their cars in order to complete checks very alarming. The same stressed that a thorough and open investigation is needed as soon as possible.
That’s why we’re calling on people with expertise and experience in the field to give evidence to the inquiry to better inform our deliberations.
In addition to EES, the Committee has also asked to know more about the impact the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will have on operators and travellers.
ETIAS will be ready to enter into operation in the spring of 2025, while the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation will go live this month.