New EU border check system paused for tourists following French demands, port officials say
The introduction of a new digital entry and exit system for tourists in Dover has been halted following “guidance from French authorities”.
Port authorities in the urban town said the European Union Entry/Exit System (EES) was ready for implementation from Saturday, November 1, but added that implementation had been suspended and they were following instructions from their French counterparts.
Under the new system, fingerprints and photographs of third-country nationals, including British tourists, will be taken in order to increase security in the bloc. Measures are in place for all Britons entering the Schengen area, which consists of 29 European countries, especially the EU.
For most travelers, EES checks will be carried out at foreign airports, but those boarding international services from London’s St Pancras railway station, the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel’s Folkestone terminal must complete EES checks in the UK.
The new scheme has already been introduced for ferry passengers as well as coaches and freight wagons on buses at Dover. However, officials said that tourists traveling by car will not be subject to checks as planned for now.
Doug Bannister, the port’s chief executive, told the BBC: “The Port of Dover’s facilities will be ready by 1 November, but we are being guided by French authorities as to when we will be operational.”
It comes after the phased rollout of the EES was described as a “total mess” by European travel association Etoa, with concerns about a lack of clear information.
The port of Dover has warned that processing cars could take six times longer due to new border controls. Currently the port takes about 60 seconds to process each vehicle.
Mr Bannister had previously said “all facilities are ready” and “there will be no delays”.
When the EES was first designed, the UK was part of the EU and there was no expectation that British travelers would be subject to controls. However, as part of the Brexit deal, Boris Johnson’s government negotiated for UK passport holders to become third-country nationals.
Independent He contacted the port of Dover for more information.
