Hopes that other European countries will follow Greece’s lead and suspend the new Entry Exit System(EES) for Brits to avoid long queues this summer have been dismissed by the EU.
It denied recent media reports that it had given countries permission to suspend the collection of biometrics (photographs and fingerprints) from non-EU arrivals to ease waiting times.
Last month, Greece announced it was suspending biometric checks for British visitors and reverting to the previous system of checking and stamping passports.
However, a spokesperson for the European Commission told French publication The Connexion that it was in contact with Greece ‘to clarify the situation and recall the existing rules’.
It added: “As a general rule, the EES foresees flexibility when it comes to the registration of biometrics until after the summer period this year.
“The suspension of the collection of biometric data is possible at specific border crossing points and for a limited amount of time in cases of exceptional circumstances that lead to excessive waiting times.”
Countries are permitted to suspend checks for up to six hours at a time when queues build up, until July, and the EU has suggested this might be extended till September.
It told The Connexion it does not foresee blanket exemptions for nationals of specific third countries, such as the UK, and for an extended period of time.
Greece has indicated that it will continue to fast-track Brits for the rest of this year and possibly longer unless the EES is improved and waiting times reduce.
There have been reports that other countries, including Italy and Portugal, planned to do the same.
However, the EU spokesperson told The Connexion: “The Portuguese and Italian authorities confirmed that they do not intend to exempt any nationality.”
Image shows new EES machines at Malaga Airport, Spain
