Institutional expectations: security, digitalisation and efficiency
The EES, introduced gradually from October 2025 and becoming fully applicable on 10 April 2026, is designed to:
- electronically record the entry and exit of third-country nationals in the Schengen area;
- replace manual passport stamping;
- collect biometric data (facial images and fingerprints) into a central database.
From the perspective of the European Commission and system advocates, the EES represents a technological step forward to strengthen external border security, improve overstay management and, in the long term, streamline border control procedures through automation.
In practice: queues, delays and widespread criticism
Contrary to expectations, the full rollout of the EES has been marked by operational setbacks, with airports across Europe reporting significantly longer waiting times than anticipated:
- waiting times reaching several hours at major airports, including cases of passengers missing connecting flights;
- organisations such as ACI Europe warning that processing times per passenger have increased substantially at many checkpoints, with queues of up to three hours or more during peak periods;
- ongoing technical issues at some airports, including failures in biometric kiosks and insufficient processing capacity for simultaneous arrivals.
According to recent reports, the system has become a source of disruption and inefficiency, slowing passenger flows — particularly for tourists and travellers arriving from outside the Schengen area.
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Airline pressure and calls for temporary suspension
Airlines and sector associations have also entered the debate, warning of systemic risks if the EES continues to operate without adjustments:
- major carriers such as Ryanair, Jet2 and easyJet have publicly called for the temporary suspension of the EES in some European countries ahead of summer, citing the risk of “summer chaos” due to queues of up to two hours at airports such as Beauvais, Marseille and Nantes;
- transport groups and travel operators, including ABTA and Airlines UK, are urging further delays or contingency measures to avoid harming passenger experience during peak traffic;
- the Portuguese Prime Minister recently acknowledged that the government may again consider temporary suspensions of biometric capture at border controls if queues exceed critical levels.
Institutional flexibility to mitigate congestion
Recognising the difficulties, the European Commission in Brussels has clarified that Member States can temporarily suspend biometric data collection when queues exceed certain operational thresholds, reverting to manual stamping while still recording data electronically.
This “flexibility mechanism” — designed to prevent extreme congestion — can be activated in specific situations and has already been used in some countries, including recent cases involving French and British authorities at the Port of Dover border in late May.
Outlook: adjustment or redesign?
Industry analysts stress that the transition to a fully digital border control system is a long-term strategic objective, but warn that the accelerated rollout of the EES without fully adequate infrastructure and operational readiness may have created a gap between expectations and on-the-ground realities.
Proposed solutions include:
- increasing human and technical resources at border control points;
- improving staff training and interoperability of biometric kiosks;
- adjusting national procedures based on actual traffic patterns.
As the 2026 summer travel peak approaches, the balance between enhanced security and operational efficiency will continue to be tested, requiring flexible and coordinated responses from the EU, Member States, airports and airlines.
