The Council of the European Union has established a new regulation to allow a gradually-phased introduction period for its soon-to-be-implemented Entry/Exit digital border management system (EES), depending on individual member states’ needs.
The decision to utilise a phased approach, The Council states, has been made in order to confirm, monitor and address any issues in the performance of the EES central system.
The EES is a new, automated digital border system that, when introduced, will require each and every non-EU national passenger travelling to the Schengen area for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) to register biometric details (such as fingerprints or a photograph) upon their arrival at a border control point, replacing the long-standing system of passport stamp verification.
For those who require the phased approach; the regulation will allow the system to be implemented over the course of six months, permitting member states to begin utilising the system and enable border authorities, as well as the wider transport industry, an opportunity to adjust to any potential issues related to the new procedures.
As part of the phased deployment proposed by The Council; member states will be able to progressively begin operation of the EES, with a target rate of a minimum of 10% of border crossings necessitating its use by the end of the first month.
During the first 60 day period, member states will be permitted to operate the EES without biometric functionalities, with all member states required to have the system in full operation for a minimum of 50% of their border crossing points after three months.
During the transition period, member states will also be required to manually stamp travel documents.
Tomasz Siemoniak, Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration, said:I am very pleased that during the Polish presidency of the EU Council, which focuses on security issues, it was possible to make such significant progress in the control and protection of our external borders.
The solution adopted is, on the one hand, flexible and, on the other hand, guarantees the security of migratory movements.
Despite the announcement of the introductory requirements, a date has still yet to be formalised, with The Council stating that the law requires a separate decision to be made by the European Commission in order to be fully enforced.
Negotiations for the system’s implementation are still ongoing between the Council and the European Parliament.
