The EU's new border system is causing significant delays for travelers, with some airports reporting waits of up to three times longer than before. This is a major issue, especially for tourists and business travelers, who are now facing long queues and extended wait times at passport control. The new system, known as the Entry Exit System (EES), requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and a photo when they arrive, and the information is checked as they leave. While the European Commission (EC) has stated that disruption is limited in most EU airports, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The complexity of the system and its integration with e-gates has led to longer wait times, with UK nationals now taking up to 20 minutes to get through the border, compared to the previous seven minutes. This is a major problem, especially for those with children or those who need to catch connecting flights. The EC has also acknowledged the bugs in the system, which can cause crashes and reboots across all member states at the same time. This has led to further delays and frustration for travelers. The situation is particularly bad in Rome, where a family from Yorkshire reported waiting for two hours to get through passport control, and in Portugal, where waits of over an hour are not uncommon. The EC has been pressed by airports and airlines to allow states to proactively suspend the process ahead of busy times, but so far, no change has been made. The EES system needs to be urgently fixed to avoid further disruption and delays for travelers. In my opinion, the EC should take a more proactive approach to addressing the issues with the EES system, and work more closely with airports and airlines to find solutions that will benefit travelers and reduce the impact of delays. The current situation is simply unacceptable, and the EC must take action to ensure that the new system is functioning properly and efficiently.
