‘The UK got what it wanted’: Readers on long waits at EU borders after Brexit

Independent Readers have reacted with disappointment to the EU’s new digital border plan, which has led to delays of up to three hours at passport control.

Many people criticized the complexity of the program because fingerprinting and facial biometric registration added time to already slow border checks.

The Airports Council International in Brussels called for an urgent review of the entry-exit system (EES) introduced across Europe in October, while some readers criticized the EU for inefficiency and described the new plan as “ineffective”.

Others emphasized that the delays were foreseeable and resulted directly from the UK’s decision to leave the EU, and argued that travelers should “live with the consequences” of Brexit rather than blame the EU or its citizens.

Some commenters shared their personal responses; some decided to postpone their European trips until the system improved, while others witnessed delays resulting from travelers being unprepared.

Here’s what you need to say:

Brexit has failed

The EU took back control. The new EU-UK agreement, which brings Gibraltar into Schengen and the customs union, has now become an agreed text.

Brexit has failed.

So bad.

Kurd

Actions meet results

Here we go again!

This is what the elites of this island DEMAND as the treatment of their subjects after they fled the EU.

This island suffers from the serious disease of never connecting actions to consequences.

Betrayed-British

Postponing a visit to Europe

It was always going to take a long time for the EU to get this system up and running properly, as it was bound to have teething problems, as has now been proven.

So, my wife and I decided to hold off visiting Europe until customs cleared up and, like many of my family and friends, book (and spend our money) to visit countries that are not part of this system.

Now we are all expanding our horizons and deciding to visit countries we have never considered before.

Rafpi1964

England got what it wanted

ESTA is an automated system that determines visitors’ eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.

We in the UK can and do live with this.

And now the weirdest thing…

We did not want the EU. We did not want the customs union. We did not ask for free travel arrangements.

ALL EU citizens: as we call foreigners, blame the EU for treating us like foreigners of the EU.

I really don’t understand the discussion we are having on this forum. The UK got exactly what it wanted: leaving the EU, becoming an EU citizen. And yet we can’t lose, as if it were a mantra. We continue to blame the EU and its citizens for a nationally desired amputation – even by Brits living in Spain – who still accuse the EU and Spain of being treated as foreigners as their nationalist votes come home to haunt them.

People are growing up!

Instead of constantly complaining, live with the consequences of your vote.

Brad

Record

I noticed delays caused by people not pre-registering and having to do so when they arrived at border control. People who had their facial photos and fingerprints recorded in machines before arriving at the border desk were quickly stamped out.

Brexit of dogs

Delays are inevitable

There will always be some delay and inconvenience when you control border access; It is higher at the beginning and decreases over time.

I would suggest that the UK and its society keep very, very quiet on the whole issue of border control.

Jonathan Mills

Inefficient and authoritarian

This shows how inefficient and ineffective the EU is. The British people have made the right decision and anything done to subvert their will is authoritarian.

Faith of Our Fathers

Another Brexit advantage

I found this system to work more efficiently than you might find at a UK airport.

And if you must wait, please be grateful for another Brexit benefit. Where you were once a citizen, you are now a foreigner who must be fingerprinted and photographed before you can enter.

rejoin

Some of the comments in this article have been edited for brevity and clarity.

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