EU hits pause on EES: nine countries reportedly allowed to delay full rollout

The European Union has reportedly eased the rollout of its Entry/Exit System (EES) in at least nine Schengen countries amid ongoing concerns about border congestion and technical issues.

According to The Sunday Times, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland have been given the go-ahead to delay full implementation of EES in order to “maintain border fluidity.”

The move marks the latest adjustment to the EU’s long-delayed biometric border system, which requires British and other non-EU travellers to provide fingerprints and a facial image when crossing into the 29-country Schengen Area.

After years of postponements, EES began rolling out in phases in October 2025, with full implementation originally expected by the following April.

However, concerns about software problems and the potential for lengthy queues prompted officials to introduce a 150-day grace period, allowing countries to temporarily suspend some checks to prevent major disruption at borders.

READ MORE: Europe risks losing 41 million visitors as EES delays threaten tourism: WTTC

That flexibility expired Sept. 6, and EU officials had previously indicated that the measures available during the summer would not be extended.

But The Sunday Times reports that at least nine Schengen countries told the European Commission they were not prepared to fully enforce the new controls until the necessary technology and systems were functioning properly.

Brussels subsequently gave those countries informal permission to delay full enforcement, according to the report. Unlike the previous grace period, the latest arrangement reportedly has no fixed expiry date.

The European Commission refused to comment.

The reported change comes amid mounting pressure from airlines, airports and ports over the impact EES could have on passenger processing.

Ryanair has called on the EU to extend the ability to suspend EES until next April, while the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned of significant consequences if authorities fail to address implementation problems.

Pressure has also come from the UK government.

The biometric system has already faced disruption during its phased introduction. Greece, for example, suspended EES checks for British visitors until September in an effort to alleviate congestion during the peak summer travel period.

WTTC warns of tourism impact

The latest development comes as research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warns that prolonged EES-related border delays could have significant consequences for European tourism.

The study, released in June, surveyed more than 2,500 travellers from four major European source markets — the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia — and found that lengthy waits could persuade millions of travellers to avoid the Schengen Area.

According to the findings, if travellers routinely face border waits of three to four hours, roughly one-third would be much less likely to visit the region or would choose another destination.

Applied to projected 2026 visitor volumes, WTTC estimates that as many as 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in tourism spending could be at risk.

“The introduction of EES is an important step forward in modernizing Europe’s borders and strengthening security,” said Gloria Guevara, president & CEO of WTTC, in a previous statement.

“Our research clearly shows that travellers support digital and biometric border systems and understand the long-term benefits they can deliver.

“As with any major transformation, there will inevitably be teething problems. The challenge now is not whether EES should proceed, but how governments, border authorities and the Travel & Tourism sector work together to ensure implementation is as smooth as possible.”

The “good news,” said Guevara, is that “solutions already exist.”

“By making greater use of digital pre-registration tools, improving traveller communications and ensuring operational readiness at border crossing points, Europe can reduce friction and deliver the seamless experience travellers expect,” she said.

Travellers support EES, but awareness remains low

Despite concerns surrounding its implementation, WTTC's research indicates travellers broadly support the concept behind EES.

After learning more about the system, 65 per cent of respondents said they supported it, compared with just six per cent who strongly opposed biometric border controls.

Enhanced border security was identified as a benefit by 57 per cent of respondents, while 52 per cent pointed to potentially faster processing on future trips and 43 per cent cited greater confidence in border controls.

Awareness, however, remains a major hurdle.

More than half of travellers surveyed — 55 per cent — said they had heard little or nothing about EES. Nearly half, or 49 per cent, said they did not know what would be required of them when entering or leaving the Schengen Area.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.