EU may delay new EES border checks for Brits to avert summer travel chaos

• The European Union is reportedly considering a further delay to the full rollout of its digital Entry/Exit System past the 6 September deadline to prevent severe border chaos and airport bottlenecks.
• EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas has reportedly given private assurances that biometric checks could be paused, following discussions with UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
• The new Entry/Exit System requires non-EU passengers entering or exiting the 29 Schengen countries to register biometric details , such as fingerprints and facial photos, replacing manual passport stamps.
• Operational unpreparedness at major European airports has led to widespread queue delays, prompting one in five British holidaymakers to consider cancelling their summer trips to Europe.
• To help mitigate potential travel disruption at British departure points, the UK government has announced £20 million in funding for additional passport check booths at the Port of Dover.

IN FULL

EU border chaos update as post-Brexit checks spark major delays