European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged that there is still a considerable amount of work required to address technical issues within the new Entry/Exit System (EES). The system, which was introduced last year to register non-EU travellers entering the 27-nation bloc, has faced criticism for causing severe disruptions to European air travel.
Airlines and airports have issued warnings this week, reporting that the EES is contributing to wait times of up to five hours. Industry leaders are urging the European Union to implement immediate measures to prevent potential chaos during the busy summer travel period, which is expected to see an increase of up to 40 million passengers.
The EES replaces traditional manual passport stamping by recording personal and biometric data to track overstays and entry refusals. It is utilized by EU member states—excluding Ireland and Cyprus—alongside other nations in the Schengen free movement area, such as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. According to an EU official, since October 2025, approximately 108 million people have used the system, with 44,000 individuals denied entry, primarily due to missing travel documents or visas.
In response to the mounting pressure, von der Leyen stated that the Commission is working alongside member states to resolve the technical shortcomings of the rollout. “There’s still quite a lot of work to do to have these technical issues solved together with the member states,” she said. A meeting between the Commission and industry representatives is scheduled for July 7 to evaluate the current situation.
The push for action is backed by a coalition including ACI Europe, the A4E association, and the International Air Transport Association, which represents over 360 airlines globally. These groups have proposed that countries be permitted to suspend the new checks during peak traffic times. But Brussels has also pushed back at the criticism, describing the impact in most European airports as limited and noting that the bloc’s member states had agreed to the reform, adding, “If you’re unhappy, then join the Schengen area.”
Pressed on the matter, the European Commission chief acknowledged the rollout of the scheme — introduced last year to register non-EU travellers entering the 27-nation bloc — was far from perfect.
READ ALSO: 'Critical point' – Europe's airports demand urgent action to avoid summer border delays
