EU Delays New Biometric Travel Checks Again

The European Union has once again postponed the introduction of a new biometric entry control system for non-EU citizens, scheduled for 10 November.  The reason for this was statements by Germany, France and the Netherlands that their border computer systems were not ready, Reuters and The Guardian reported. 

‘10 November is no longer on the table,’ EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ilva Johansson told reporters.

She added that there is no new timetable, but that a phased introduction of the system is being considered.

A representative of the German Ministry of the Interior said that the three countries, which account for 40% of passenger traffic, are not ready to implement the system, as ‘the necessary stability and functionality of the central system, which should be provided by the EU agency EU-Lisa, has not yet been achieved.’

EU-Lisa is the agency responsible for implementing large-scale IT systems in the EU.

The French Ministry of the Interior has stated that while France is convinced of the usefulness of the new biometric entry control system, its implementation must be properly prepared.

The Dutch government did not respond to a request for comment.

The EES envisages the creation of a digital record linking a travel document to biometric data that verifies identity and eliminates the need for manual stamping of passports at the EU's external border.  This will require non-EU nationals arriving in the Schengen area to register their fingerprints, have their faces scanned and answer questions about their stay.

Earlier it was planned that a new automatic control system, the Entry/Exit System, would be launched at the EU borders on 10 November. Passport holders would no longer have to put entry and exit stamps on their passports, but instead would have to scan their biometric data and store it for 3 years.