The European Union delayed the introduction a new biometric system of entry-check for non-EU nationals, which was to be implemented on November 10. Germany, France and Netherlands said that their border computer systems are not yet ready.
Ylva Jönsson, EU Home Affairs Commissioner, told reporters:
“November 10, is no longer on our table.”
She said that a new timetable was not available, but that a phased implementation was being investigated.
The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is supposed to create an electronic record linking a travel documents to biometric readings which confirm a person’s identity. This would eliminate the need for passports to be manually stamped at the EU’s external border.
Non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area would be required to register their fingerprints and provide a facial scanning, as well as answer questions about their visit.
Britain will invest 10,5 million pounds in its ports to prepare for the EU’s digital border system that is due to launch this autumn. This system requires travellers from the UK undergo biometric tests, including face scans and fingerprints, to link the identity of their travel documents.
A spokesperson from the German interior ministry stated that the three countries representing 40% of the affected passengers traffic were not ready to implement EES due to the “necessary functionality and stability of the EES Central System to be provided the EU agency EU Lisa is not in place yet”. EU-Lisa was the agency responsible to implement large-scale IT system within the EU.
The French interior ministry stated that while France is convinced of EES’s usefulness, its introduction needs to be properly prepared. The Dutch government didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.
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