EES role out

TELLIT01

I've read a couple of reports that the French are starting to complain about the delays caused by EES. If Germany joins in, it's odd on that the system will either be scrapped completely or at least suspended..

NoodleDoodleMan

Another potential drama that the system architects possibly overlooked ?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/17/identical-twins-double-trouble-eu-new-border-system/

pattycake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072926#Comment_82072926

I do hope so!

michael1234

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072926#Comment_82072926

I also hope its true but why would it delay the french?

TELLIT01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82073889#Comment_82073889

It's not a question of delaying French travellers or those of any other Schengen Zone nation. It's the chaos it is creating for all visitors from outside that area. News of massive queues on entry and exit is likely to put 'foreign' travellers off visiting. If not this year, as many won't be aware until they arrive, but in future years.

UK visitors to France and southern Europe make up the bulk of holiday makers, so losing those would have a massive effect on their tourism industries.

TheShape

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070873#Comment_82070873

Quick note about my recent experience of EES at Barcelona-El Prat T1.

Flew into Barcelona Weds 15th July approx 9am. Queues looked horrendous but there was a system. Queued first for the EES terminal. My partner and I had both registered fingerprints and photograph in Italy a couple of months ago. I was directed to the E-gates and my partner to a border officer where her fingerprints were re-taken. Don't know if there had been an error in taking or recording these in Italy. Both got through in approx the same time. Total time to comple was around 25 minutes.

Returning Sat 18th July. Got to the airport around 5:30pm (2.5 hours before flight). Plenty of machines to use. No queue. Checked and straight through E-gate for both of us.

Your experience obvioulsy may vary as I've seen from other threads that there have been significant delays at Barcelona. All may be dependent on day/time/number of flights etc.

michael1234

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074316#Comment_82074316

Yep and the fact we have kids with us (one severely disabled)

michael1234

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074165#Comment_82074165

I'm not doubting you but perhaps they don't value their tourism industry sufficiently. "Punishing" us for brexit seems to have taken priority - at least at the Comission.

TELLIT01

I really do wish people would stop claiming that the EES system has been introduced to punish the UK for Brexit. EES affects visitors from all over the world and is likely to cause more and more problems as travel moves into the high season.

michael1234

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074423#Comment_82074423

But you have just said "UK visitors to France and southern Europe make up the bulk of holiday makers". So it will be us who will feel the pain the most.