European Commission addresses border delays attributed to the new EES system

The European Commission is currently addressing significant delays at EU airports caused by the implementation of the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES). While aviation industry groups like IATA and A4E report wait times of up to five hours, Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert maintains that the system itself is functioning correctly. Lammert argues that congestion stems from structural issues, including insufficient staffing and inadequate physical infrastructure at member state airports. The EES, which replaces manual passport stamping with biometric data collection for non-EU travelers, has already processed 110 million entries and exits across 1,500 locations. In response to mounting pressure, EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner has initiated consultations with the industry. Additionally, the Commission plans to deploy Frontex personnel to high-traffic airports to assist with operations. Authorities are also promoting a new pre-registration application to help streamline the border crossing process as summer travel demand increases.