"New Era in Travel to the Schengen Area"

05.03.2025 16:51

The Interior Ministers of the European Union countries have approved the gradual implementation of the Electronic Entry-Exit System, which will ensure the digital recording of the entry and exit of travelers from non-EU countries to the Schengen area.

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According to a written statement from the Council of the European Union (EU), the Interior Ministers of EU countries gathered in Poland have agreed on a regulation that will enable member states to gradually implement the EES over a period of 6 months.

AT LEAST HALF OF THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS WILL BE MANDATORY

According to the new plan, for the first 60 days, member countries will be able to operate the new system without biometric functions, but after 3 months, they will be required to use the new system at least at half of the border crossing points. During the 6-month transition period for the new system at the entries to the EU, travel documents will continue to be stamped manually, but at the end of this period, all information will be processed through the electronic system.

DATE NOT YET DETERMINED

The regulation will allow those who wish to implement the system gradually to do so, while others will be able to fully implement the system from day one. While no start date has been set for the gradual implementation of the system, it is expected that the European Commission will determine a date after the regulation is approved and comes into force in the European Parliament (EP).

"I AM VERY PLEASED"

Poland's Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak expressed his satisfaction regarding the decision, stating, "I am very pleased that such significant progress has been made in the control and protection of our external borders during Poland's presidency of the EU Council, which focused on security issues."

ELECTRONIC ENTRY-EXIT SYSTEM

With the EES, the entries and exits of non-EU citizens traveling for short stays in an EU member country will be digitally recorded, including passport information, fingerprints, and facial images. The new system aims to control and combat irregular entries into the Schengen area. The new system, which is planned to come into effect on November 10, 2024, has been postponed several times due to the unpreparedness of the infrastructures of many member countries.