Von der Leyen told ‘act now’ as EU’s new borders checks spark mayhem for millions | World | News
Ursula von der Leyen (Image: Getty)
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been urged to “act now” amid the lengthy delays caused by the rollout of the border checks associated with the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES). The EU border checks introduced in April are causing up to five-hour delays – and should be suspended ahead of peak summer periods, aviation industry leaders said.
The system involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU. For most UK travellers, the process is done at foreign airports and takes longer than the previous passport check and stamp carried out upon arrival.
Around 40 million more passengers are expected to travel to the EU over the next two months. (Image: Getty)
Senior figures at three major aviation industry bodies wrote a joint letter to the president of the European Commission, warning that the implementation of EES is creating “severe operational consequences disrupting passengers and putting border authorities, airports and airlines under unsustainable pressure”.
They called for her “immediate intervention” as waiting times at border control have “increased significantly, now reaching up to five hours”, with the delays “impacting millions of passengers”.
The letter insisted that EU member states are making “extensive use” of a temporary flexibility allowing them to suspend the collection of biometric data during busy periods until September, but this has “not prevented excessive queues”.
It called for countries to be allowed to “completely suspend EES preventively” when the number of passengers will exceed the “operational capacity” of border control facilities until the end of August.
They are also seeking a “permanent operational flexibility mechanism” to allow the suspension of EES “under clearly defined exceptional circumstances”.
The letter went on: “We are now entering the busiest period of the year. During July and August alone, European airports are expected to handle approximately 40 million more passengers than during the previous two months.
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“The commission and member states must take stock of the reality of the current situation and of what our air transport system will face over the coming weeks. Without additional flexibility, existing challenges will inevitably intensify.”
The letter was written by Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of Airlines for Europe; Olivier Jankovec, director-general of Airports Council International Europe; and Thomas Reynaert, senior vice president for external affairs at the International Air Transport Association.
Airports in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy have been reported to be among the worst affected by EES queues.
Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs for travel trade organisation Abta, called on the European Commission to “act now”.
He said five-hour delays are “the exception not the rule” but queues at some airports are “completely unacceptable”.
He added: “Whilst the industry remains supportive of the longer-term objectives of EES, it is clear the system can no longer be delivered on the existing timeline.”
