Launch date of the EU’s Entry/Exit border system is finally revealed

The launch date of the European Union’s border control system, the much-anticipated Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), has finally been revealed according to The Independent newspaper. They claim that the EES launch date will be on October 6th, 2024.

The Independent also says that France was mainly behind the new date after they had pressured the EU institutions to delay the launch of the EES until after the Paris Olympics, set to be held in summer this year, to prevent delays at its borders.

Previously, in August last summer, the delegate of the Union of French Airports, Nicolas Paulissen, said that the EES entry into force would be pushed to the end of 2024, and even maybe 2025.

At the time, the French authorities had placed an order for 544 new kiosks and 250 tablets, to be installed at the country’s borders, with Thales, a global leader in new technologies for the aerospace, space, defence, security and transportation markets.

Who has confirmed the EES launch date?

The new date has been confirmed by Eurotunnel, the underwater railway tunnel that connects the UK with France. SchengenVisaInfo.com have reported that they contacted the press team of Thales on the possible new EES launch date, but have received no response so far.

The Independent has also sent a query to the EU Commission’s Home Affairs department but has received no response on the matter either.

The EES project, launched in 2017, is a system through which the EU intends to fortify its external borders. It safeguards the EU by gathering biometric data from individuals entering and exiting its territory, reducing potential threats. The system aims to enhance safety and prevent security risks within the bloc.

The system is closely linked to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the launch of which has been postponed to 2025, though the exact date for the launch of this system still remains unknown.

Both systems have been postponed several times so far. In October, the EU Council released a roadmap towards the implementation of the EES and the ETIAS, for autumn 2024 and spring 2025, respectively. No exact date has been revealed for the ETIAS, so far.