ABTA has written to the European Commission highlighting challenges with the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and calling for more consistent use of contingency measures at borders.
It follows comments made by a European Commission spokesperson on Friday 30 January, who reminded the 29 countries participating in EES that contingency measures are available to prevent significant delays at passport control.
In a letter to the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner on 4 February, ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer said feedback from ABTA members reveals use of these measures has been inconsistent across borders, with some locations not applying them at all. As a result, passengers have faced lengthy and avoidable delays, with knock-on effects for onward travel.
ABTA has urged the Commission to ensure clear and consistent communication to member states and border authorities, so that staff on the ground understand when and how contingency measures can be applied.
The association also urged the Commission to keep the rollout under close review as passenger numbers increase and the industry moves towards peak travel periods.
Under the contingency measures, border authorities are permitted to temporarily stand down the system or limit the number or extent of checks to reduce disruption and manage queues.
The Commission spokesperson said additional measures may be used during the busy summer travel season. While EES will become fully operational from 9 April, contingency measures will remain available throughout the summer if required.
ABTA said passenger experiences of EES have been mixed to date, with some travellers passing through borders without issue, while others have encountered queues or technical problems.
In addition to using contingency measures, ABTA said destinations and border authorities should improve planning for peak periods, including deploying additional border guards at the busiest times.
Mark said: “The ambition of a project like EES means it was never going to go completely smoothly, and we were prepared for that. However, what is frustrating is that border authorities have it within their power to ease queues and deal with issues as they arise – but that doesn’t seem to be happening across the board.
“As the rollout expands and we head towards peak travel periods, we’re urging border authorities to plan for busy periods and use the contingency measures available. It’s critical the Commission keeps a close eye on this throughout the rollout and beyond.”
See also: Foreign Office updates advice ahead of EES rollout
