The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) has endorsed a phased rollout for the European Union’s new Entry-Exit System (EES), a biometric border control system aimed at modernizing entry and exit procedures for non-EU nationals across the Schengen Area. Developed by eu-LISA, the system will be gradually implemented over a 180-day period beginning in October 2025.
The EES will replace traditional passport stamping with a digital record that includes biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial images. Its objectives include enhancing border security, reducing identity fraud, and better tracking the movements of short-stay visa holders. During the transition period, manual passport stamping will continue in parallel to ensure operational continuity.
According to the plan approved by LIBE, member states must register at least 10 percent of border crossings by day 30, 35 percent by day 90, and achieve full implementation by day 180. While the plan includes a progressive deployment option, it is not mandatory—member states with the technical readiness may choose full deployment from the start. The timeline was designed to avoid implementation during peak travel periods (June–August and December–February) to minimize disruption.
“The purpose of the Entry-Exit System is to make EU citizens safer,” said Assita Kanko (ECR, Belgium), the rapporteur for the measure. “With this gradual roll-out, we aim to get the system up and running as soon as realistically possible.”
While LIBE’s vote passed with strong support—54 in favor, 2 against, and 10 abstentions—the EES faces significant scrutiny and logistical hurdles. The system has already been delayed multiple times: originally slated for 2022, its launch has been pushed back due to technical and administrative challenges in countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. These delays have caused border authorities to maintain manual procedures longer than anticipated, with accompanying cost and efficiency concerns.
Additionally, the delay in EES implementation has a direct impact on the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which cannot go live until EES is fully operational. ETIAS is now expected to launch in late 2026.
The LIBE-endorsed rollout plan also includes a suspension clause: if serious technical issues arise or border wait times become unmanageable, the deployment can be paused temporarily. This measure aims to preserve operational stability and public trust during the transition.
eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for large-scale IT systems, will oversee the deployment. The agency has been conducting industry briefings and technical evaluations to ensure a secure and reliable rollout. However, controversy has emerged over potential security risks related to Atos’ Moscow office, which was involved in aspects of EES development. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) have investigated these concerns, prompting the European Commission to pledge a full security audit before launch to address data protection and outsourcing vulnerabilities.
The EES represents one of the most ambitious border modernization projects in the EU’s history. While the gradual rollout is intended to reduce risk, the scale and sensitivity of the system—handling personal and biometric data across 27 countries—has raised urgent questions about technical readiness, data sovereignty, and cybersecurity safeguards.
Sources: European Parliament, Schengen Visa Info
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April 24, 2025 – by Ali Nassar-Smith
