How To Rescue Europe’s New Border Checks System

Illustration by Will Allen/Europinion

The road to a new era of border management has been anything but smooth for Europe. Following numerous delays, the EU’s planned Entry/Exit System (EES) for travellers outside the Schengen Area has been postponed once again, raising concerns about the EU's readiness to enhance border security whilst maintaining the seamless travel for citizens and visitors granted by the EU’s vaunted commitment to freedom of movement. To restore public confidence in travel, the EU must prioritise the deployment of the Entry-Exit System (EES). 

According to the European Commission, it will record biometric information and travel details, making it the "most advanced border management system in the world." It is intended to increase security particularly around irregular migration. Under the new digital monitoring system, everyone entering the Schengen area with a foreign passport will be tracked, and it will be easy to flag anyone who has overstayed their visa. At the same time, it will make it harder for people to use fake passports.

The introduction of the EES can be defined as a critical response to the rise in irregular migration, concerns over terrorism, and the need for stronger border controls in the face of the uneasy return to global travel post-Covid. By tracking non-EU nationals entering and leaving the Schengen Area, the EES aims to revolutionise border crossing management. This seems like an obvious upgrade: a modern tool for securing travel in an age when it is both a privilege and a challenge. However, setbacks from key EU players like France, Germany, and the Netherlands reveal a troubling reality. The system aims to boost security by tracking non-EU travellers with biometric scans, but some countries aren’t convinced the technology is ready for full implementation, especially given the risk of long delays at the border. With the pressure mounting, getting the EES right is essential—not just for security, but to avoid chaos at borders and concomitant damage to the freedom of movement ideal.

The repeated delays in implementing the EES point to broader systemic issues rather than an isolated failure. As aforesaid, the delays demonstrate a coordination problem among EU member states, which were originally prompted by major events like the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics. The three aforementioned countries—responsible for 40% of all inward traffic to the EU—have sounded the alarm about the system's readiness, concerning inter alia its potential impact on school trips and holiday traffic. 

An already complex situation is further complicated by the EU's technology agency, eu-Lisa, which is responsible for managing the IT systems supporting border security, visa processing, and migration management. The agency is notoriously sclerotic, struggles with budget issues, and has been responsible for delaying the EES again and again and again. Stuck in a bureaucratic limbo, how can an effortless travel experience be achieved? To counter these challenges, the EU must adopt a pragmatic approach. Starting with lower-traffic borders would be a helpful way to test how the EES works without putting too much strain on the system. This measured strategy would provide an opportunity to gather real-world data, ensuring when the system does go live, it is both efficient and reliable.

Moreover, exploring alternative solutions like an “EES Lite” option or implementing pre-boarding biometric verification could lighten some of the immediate pressure on airports and ports. Imagine a world where travellers can move through security checkpoints with the swiftness of a smartphone unlock. Such innovations would ease congestion and foster trust in the system and in the EU’s border management strategies.

Ultimately, the success of the EES hinges on balancing security needs with the realities of modern travel and commerce which demand maximisation of border permeability. The road ahead may be fraught with obstacles, but Europe still can transform this border bottleneck into a pathway for progress.

As we move forward, let us hope the EU takes this opportunity to not just build a system but to build trust—trust that our borders can be secure without sacrificing the freedom to move and explore. The clock is ticking. Europe must rise to the occasion before the doors of opportunity close on its ambitious border reform.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet

Licence: public domain.

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