Airports in Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels, and Milan have begun temporarily switching off the European Union border control Entry/Exit System due to long summer delays. Politico reported that representatives of airline Air France-KLM, along with leaders of airlines, border services, and airports, confirmed using this mechanism when they cannot handle passenger influxes.
The Entry/Exit System, known as EES, fully launched in April 2026 for non-European Union citizens entering the Schengen Zone. Instead of passport stamps, travelers must register fingerprints, take a photo, and submit data to an electronic database where it is stored for three years. The system aims to strengthen control over permitted stays and identify identity fraud.
During the peak summer tourist season, the new procedures caused delays lasting several hours. To avoid transport collapse, the European Commission allowed border authorities to temporarily stop collecting biometric data in exceptional cases until September 6.
Border checks and extension requests
Border services emphasized that checks are not canceled when biometric registration is suspended. Travel document details are still entered into the EES database, and security screening remains active.
At least eight European Union countries and Switzerland have called to extend the biometric exemption past September 6. Officials cited insufficient infrastructure and staffing levels to operate the system during peak travel hours. However, the European Commission insisted that EES improves border security and detects document fraud that previously went unnoticed.
The ETIAS travel authorization system
The next phase of border digitalization is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, known as ETIAS. Following several postponements, the launch of ETIAS is now scheduled for 2027.
The European Union approved the initial decision to alter border procedures for visa-exempt citizens in 2016. The European Parliament passed legislation defining the parameters of ETIAS in 2018, though launch dates were pushed back multiple times.
ETIAS will function similarly to the United States ESTA system. It will apply to roughly 1.4 billion visa-free travelers visiting the European Union for short stays, including citizens of Ukraine. Travelers must complete an online application, clear automated security checks, and pay a fee of 20 euros before receiving travel authorization.
