The European Union has initiated legal proceedings against IBM and two other technology firms responsible for the development and maintenance of its troubled border-management infrastructure. An internal document confirms that EU-Lisa, the bloc's agency for large-scale IT systems in the domain of justice and security, filed the case last year against the consortium members: IBM, the French IT company Atos, and the Italian defence contractor Leonardo.
The legal action follows the October 2025 launch of the entry/exit system (EES), which has been plagued by significant technical difficulties. These malfunctions have resulted in widespread reports of kiosks failing to operate and periodic system outages. Consequently, travelers have faced severe disruptions, including wait times of up to three hours during peak periods and some passengers missing their flights due to the combined impact of the technology failures and staffing shortages at borders.
According to the agency, the claim was submitted on 22 December 2025 to a court in Estonia, the location of the agency's headquarters. While the Financial Times first reported on the existence of the lawsuit, EU-Lisa declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. The agency maintained that the litigation has no impact on the operational status of the EES, which it describes as being fully functional across Europe.
The entry/exit system was designed to bolster security for individuals traveling into the EU from outside its border-free travel zone. The process requires travelers who are not citizens of the 29 Schengen countries, Ireland, or Cyprus to have their faces photographed and fingerprints scanned upon entry. The system covers the Schengen area, which includes 25 of the 27 EU member states, alongside Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Representatives from IBM, Leonardo, and Atos have been contacted for comment regarding the lawsuit.
