EES News & Analysis

EU's EES Travel System Fully Operational Across 29 Countries

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) will be fully operational on Friday, covering all 29 countries within the Schengen Area. This digital border system requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and photos, phasing out the need for passport stamps over six months. Implementation began on October 12, with reports of long queues at various European airports. Although the European Commission may allow the suspension of checks during busy periods to ease congestion, not all airports, such as Milan and Lisbon, will activate the system simultaneously.