A European Union Commission spokesperson has confirmed once again that the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) on November 10 still remains while noting that delays can occur along the way.
Speaking on the new system, the spokesperson said that the implementation of the EES is a complex operation and, at the same time, highlighted that delays cannot be completely excluded, Schengen.News reports.
The implementation of a system like EES is a complex operation, and delays cannot be completely excluded.
As BBC explains, such a statement from the spokesperson comes after the Commission admitted that there may be additional delays to the introduction of the new border system as preparatory work has not been completed yet at some locations, including the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar.
Port of Dover Has Not Been Provided With Needed Devices Yet
It has been disclosed that the Port of Dover, which registers a high number of people travelling between the UK and the EU, has not been provided with any of the tablets that will be used to register travellers into the system.
Since no tablets have been given yet to the Port of Dover, the latter has been unable to test the system and check whether everything will run smoothly once the EES enters into force.
In the meantime, the UK government said that it is working with the EU Commission, French, and local authorities to ensure that the country is prepared in time.
We are working with the European Commission, France and the local authorities to ensure we are prepared.
The UK Government has already allocated a large amount of money to prepare for the EES. The same has stressed that it wants to ensure that the country is fully prepared for the new border measures.
How Will Entry/Exit System Work?
The Entry/Exit System is an automated system that will require all non-EU citizens to register, regardless of whether they are eligible to enter the EU visa-free.
During the registration process, travellers will have to provide their fingerprints and facial images as well as personal details and data that is included in their travel documents.
The provided information will then be stored in a database for three years, which means that travellers won’t have to undergo this procedure again until it is time to update their information.
The data provided by travellers will be used by the EU authorities to keep track of when foreigners enter and leave the bloc. Moreover, the data will also be used to detect overstayers and those using fake identities as well as prevent irregular migration, among others.