Eurotunnel’s Biometric EES Kiosks Will Be ‘Idiot-Proof’: Official

Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel connecting Britain and France, says it will be ready for the biometric border screening system currently expected to be implemented in October, despite the qualms of officials.

Europe’s planned Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system designed to register entry and exit data of non-EU nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area. It is meant to replace manual passport stamping with electronic records, and is part of the EU’s broader effort to modernize border management and improve security within the Schengen Zone. The system will record the name, travel document, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit of each traveler.

The EES project was initially proposed by the European Commission in 2013, aiming for an operational start in 2020. But the project faced multiple delays due to technical challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation date was first pushed to 2021, then to 2022. Subsequent delays moved the timeline to 2023, and finally, the EES is now scheduled to become operational this fall. These delays have been attributed to the need for extensive testing, system integration, and coordination among EU member states to ensure the system’s reliability and security.

Formerly known as “Eurotunnel”, Getlink says it has spent about £70 million building facilities that will scan travellers’ face and fingerprints as part of the EES screening process. Speaking to the BBC, Getlink’s Chief Corporate and Public Affairs Officer, John Keefe, said the system “will cope with our peak levels of traffic without really adding much to the journey time,” adding that the automated kiosks are “idiot-proof”.

Officials on both sides of the English Channel have recently expressed concern about the possible travel chaos that could be wrought by the EES’s implementation, including French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said he was “really worried” about “big choke points at Dover and St. Pancras”, the major ports connecting England to France.

Source: BBC News

–

June 5, 2024 – by Alex Perala