Portugal and Italy are poised to abandon controversial European Union border checks for British travelers ahead of the peak holiday season, following Greece's earlier decision to suspend the new Entry/Exit System (EES). The system, which requires non-EU citizens to provide biometric data such as facial scans and fingerprints upon arrival, has been plagued by technical failures and staffing shortages since its rollout.
Greece's Decision Sparks a Trend
Greece paused the EES rules for British visitors until September after the system's chaotic implementation caused extensive queues and delays. Now, Portugal is already allowing passengers to bypass biometric checks when queues become excessive. Italy is expected to adopt a similar policy before the May half-term school holiday, permitting British tourists to enter with a simple passport stamp.
Potential Domino Effect Across Europe
Reports suggest that Spain, France, and Croatia may also follow suit, potentially causing the EES to collapse like a house of cards. Travel experts warn that if multiple countries defy the regulations, the European Union will be powerless to impose meaningful penalties, as any fines would be outweighed by the tourism revenue gained from avoiding travel disruptions.
Seamus McCauley of Holiday Extras commented that nations cannot afford to let Greece capture their tourist trade by offering a smoother entry process. He stated, 'Countries are not going to sit back and let Greece take their trade because they won't face EES delays at airports. To do so would be politically toxic as jobs are on the line.' He emphasized that British tourists contribute approximately €3.5 billion (£3 billion) annually to the Greek economy, and Greece rightly refused to jeopardize that income due to the system's failures.
Ryanair Joins the Criticism
Ryanair CEO Neil McMahon also condemned the EES rollout, calling it a half-baked IT system implemented during the busiest travel season. He urged governments to suspend the system until September, noting that passengers are enduring hours-long passport control queues and missing flights as a result.
The EES became fully operational last month across the Schengen Area, which includes 25 of the 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. The Association of British Travel Agents has advised tourists to use the EES app to pre-register their biometric data, but many travelers remain frustrated by the system's inefficiency.
