EES: EU commits to stepping up efforts to reduce delays

The European Commission has committed to increasing its efforts to reduce airport delays caused by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), after airlines and airport operators warned of long queues at border control during peak travel periods.

Aviation industry leaders have reported congestion at a number of border points since the system’s rollout, with waiting times in some cases reaching up to five hours.

The concerns have been raised by multiple industry groups including Airports Council International (ACI), Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which say the system risks disrupting airport operations during the summer period.

The European Commission said it is working with member states to improve implementation and ease pressure at affected border points.

In a letter, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the system is designed to strengthen security while limiting disruption, stating that it aims at “keeping our citizens safe, without undue discomfort for visitors from outside the Schengen area.”

He said Europe’s security “must be our common overriding priority,” adding that the system has already recorded over 110 million entries and exits, as well as more than 44,000 refusals of entry since its phased rollout.

He added that the system “works well” in most member states and airports, but acknowledged that some locations were experiencing delays during the transition period.

He pointed out that responsibility lies with member states, especially in relation to staffing and infrastructure, although the Commission said it is providing ongoing support where difficulties persist.

Flexibility is also built into the system for the summer 2026 travel period, allowing member states to temporarily suspend biometric registration and revert to faster passport-based checks when needed.

However, the Commission said it will make “additional efforts” to help member states facing difficulties and will contact them again to underline the urgency of implementing the system effectively while minimising disruption for travellers.

The Commission is also pushing member states to adopt the Travel to Europe app, developed by Frontex, in order to allow travellers to pre-register their details before arriving at the border. 

Readers report a mixed picture

While industry groups have warned of widespread disruption, readers who have contacted The Connexion described varying experiences, with some encountering long queues while others report quick and straightforward border checks. 

"I have a 10-year French residency card and travelled through Frankfurt on my way to New Zealand. Everything was processed perfectly and quickly, without fingerprints or facial recognition. Three weeks later, I returned through the normal pre-registered lane and had no problems whatsoever. My entry was quick and polite... My experience was super positive and so fast." N.C

"I travel through Paris CDG at least once a month. Last Wednesday I found a 1.5-hour queue at border control and none of the 41 EES terminals were working. I missed several train options because of the delay. To be fair, there were plenty of staff around who were polite and helpful, especially with older people and families. A few days later, flying out of the same terminal to Ireland, there were no border queues at all." K.M

"I can confirm the EES booths are not operational and you can't use Parafe with a UK passport in Marseille. There were only two border guards for the whole international arrivals area…Needless to say, the queue was huge." D.K

If you had a positive or negative recent experience with the EES, you can send it to feedback@connexionfrance.com