EU introduces electronic border system, phasing out passport stamps
The European Union (EU) has announced that its new electronic border system, known as the Entry-Exit System (EES), will be launched on October 12, 2022, marking a significant step towards enhancing border security and streamlining travel procedures for non-EU travellers[1][2][3].
The EES is an automated digital border control mechanism that requires non-EU travellers to provide biometric data, including fingerprint scans and facial recognition, in addition to their passport and travel details, when entering or leaving the EU, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland[1][2][3].
The primary objective of the EES is to enhance security within the EU by:
- Identifying and preventing visa overstays
- Combating irregular migration and cross-border crime
- Reducing identity and document fraud
- Providing law enforcement with better data access to monitor border movements[1][2]
Simultaneously, the EES facilitates legitimate travel by digitizing and automating border checks, replacing manual passport stamping with electronic recording, thereby speeding up processes at border crossings[1][3]. The system will be rolled out progressively over six months, with full implementation expected by April 10, 2026[1][2][3].
Initially, some EU member states, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, expressed concerns about their readiness for the new system, but they will now be part of the 29 countries involved in the EES, along with 25 EU member states[4].
The EES is designed to accurately track when and where third-country nationals enter or leave the EU, helping to prevent irregular movements and ensure that those who are supposed to leave the EU do so[1]. The system will also help identify those who overstay their temporary residence[1].
The transition to the EES marks the end of the manual passport stamping procedure, which will become obsolete with the implementation of the new electronic border system[2]. The goal of the new procedure is to create a more secure and efficient border control system within the EU[1].
References:
[1] European Commission. (2021). Entry-Exit System (EES). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/document-library/practical-implementation-manual_en
[2] European Commission. (2021). Factsheet: Entry-Exit System (EES). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/document-library/factsheets/entry-exit-system-ees_en
[3] European Parliament. (2021). Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2019 on the European Union's internal border control system. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019R1155
[4] European Commission. (2021). Press release: EU leaders agree on new rules for the EU's external border management. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_4813
The Entry-Exit System (EES), a digital border control mechanism in the EU, aims to both enhance security by preventing visa overstays, combating irregular migration and cross-border crime, and reducing identity and document fraud, while also facilitating legitimate travel by digitizing and automating border checks[1][2]. The EES, launching on October 12, 2022, is part of broader policy-and-legislation initiatives aimed at improving the EU's border control system, as outlined in the European Commission's document library[1][2][3].
