UK Invests £10.5 Million to Prepare for New EU Entry/Exit System |

Name: UK Invests £10.5 Million to Prepare for New EU Entry/Exit System | IaM
Uploaded: 2024-09-02T16:00:00+00:00
Description: The UK government has announced a £10.5 million investment to prepare for the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System

UK Invests £10.5 Million to Prepare for New EU Entry/Exit System

The UK government has announced a £10.5 million investment to prepare for the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border control system set to launch in November 2024.

Under the EES, travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries will need to register their fingerprints and facial biometrics when they first cross the Schengen borders. For subsequent trips, they’ll simply scan their passports at self-service kiosks.

This funding is aimed at reducing the risk of long queues and disruptions at border crossings, a concern raised by government officials and local authorities, especially in Kent, where there are fears of traffic gridlock.

Eurotunnel and Port Upgrades

As part of a broader initiative, Eurotunnel has installed 224 biometric data kiosks at its Folkestone site to comply with the new EES requirements.

These kiosks can process up to 2,000 passengers or 700 vehicles per hour, using facial recognition and fingerprint technology. This upgrade is part of Getlink's efforts, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, to ensure a smooth border processing under the new rules.

Getlink’s Chief Corporate and Public Affairs Officer, John Keefe, assured that the automated kiosks are designed to handle peak traffic efficiently without adding significant delays to journey times.

In addition to the kiosks, Getlink has expanded driving facilities at Folkestone and Coquelles, including new lanes and covered zones to protect drivers from adverse weather during biometric checks.

Concerns and Adjustments

Despite these preparations, concerns about potential long queues due to the EES persist, particularly at airports. Reports suggest that the EES may introduce a “relief valve” during busy periods, allowing a certain percentage of travellers to bypass biometric registration to reduce delays.

Local border officials will have the discretion to decide how many travellers need to go through biometric checks during exceptional circumstances, though details are still being finalised.

This “relief valve” could address the concerns of transport operators who have been advocating for a phased approach to biometric data collection over a 12- to 18-month period.

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