EU changes border crossing procedure: what to expect
26.09.2024
Starting November 10, 2024, a new IT system, the EES (Entry/Exit System), will be launched at the borders with EU countries. It will automatically record the entry and exit of all foreigners to the Schengen area.
The system will record the person’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and face images), as well as the date and place of entry and exit, in full compliance with fundamental rights and data protection. This applies to all non-EU citizens, including Ukrainians, regardless of whether they have a visa or not.
The system will also record entry denials. The EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time-consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings, and does not allow for the systematic identification of travelers who have exceeded the maximum length of their stay.
EES is being introduced to help prevent illegal migration and help protect the security of European citizens. The new system also aims to simplify travel for third-country nationals.
The European Agency for the Operational Management of Large-scale IT Systems in the Field of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for the development and management of the system.
Background
The European Commission presented a proposal for the introduction of EES on April 6, 2016, as part of its revised Smart Borders package. Following negotiations with the European Parliament and Council, lawmakers reached an agreement in July 2017. The EES Regulation and targeted amendments to the Schengen Border Code were adopted on November 20, 2017 and entered into force on December 29, 2017.
