France says EES is working despite growing pressure
Authorities remain divided about the European Union’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) amid persistent challenges at major border crossings.
For instance, France has become one of its staunchest supporters. Officials emphasize that EES strengthens security, even as airports and operators deal with congestion during peak travel seasons.
At the same time, transport providers in Europe maintain that software problems and longer processing times are impacting travel. In fact, industry leaders have urged for increased operational flexibility as the system undergoes improvements.
Overall, these contrasting factors stress the struggle of balancing tighter border security with efficient passenger flows.
France praises EES performance
French authorities recently described the EES rollout as a success despite operational pressures across parts of Europe. Specifically, officials said the biometric border system strengthens identity verification while modernizing external border management.
Notably, the EES replaces traditional passport stamping for most non-EU short-stay travelers. Instead, border officers record travelers’ facial images and fingerprints during their first entry. The system then creates a digital travel record for future crossings.
Authorities say the technology improves the detection of identity fraud and helps monitor visa overstays more accurately. The French Ministry of Interior noted that since its October 2025 launch, the EES has issued more than 44,000 entry refusals, such as 1,100 cases of individuals posing security threats.
“These figures demonstrate that EES effectively protects European citizens on a daily basis,” said a ministry representative, speaking to Biometric Update.
Furthermore, French officials stressed that isolated delays should not overshadow the broader benefits of a fully digital border management system.
Transport operators continue reporting EES delays
Despite France’s confidence, transport operators continue to report operational challenges across several European gateways.
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, warned that software supplied for EU border processing could delay the rollout of biometric checks for passenger vehicles. The company said technical issues remain unresolved despite ongoing cooperation with European authorities.
Reuters reported that Getlink expects the software to improve but acknowledged that current limitations could slow border processing during busy travel periods.
Italy has raised similar concerns. According to the Italian airport association, biometric enrollment continues to increase processing times for first-time travelers.
Officials at Rome Fiumicino Airport estimate that border clearance has increased from roughly seven minutes before EES to approximately 20 minutes for many passengers completing their initial biometric registration.
Consequently, airport operators have urged EU institutions to continue refining procedures before traffic reaches its busiest seasonal levels.
Even so, industry leaders generally support the long-term objectives of the system. Instead, many are asking for practical improvements that reduce congestion without weakening border security.
Temporary suspensions provide operational flexibility
European border authorities also retain limited flexibility when extraordinary circumstances create excessive delays.
Under current rules, authorities may temporarily suspend certain biometric checks and switch to fallback procedures when congestion becomes severe. These measures aim to maintain border operations rather than suspend the EES entirely.
However, such suspensions remain temporary and apply only under specific operational conditions.
Travel experts emphasize that travelers should not interpret these measures as a cancellation of biometric requirements. Instead, authorities continue collecting biometric information whenever normal processing resumes.
As a result, the fallback procedures serve as a safety mechanism that helps prevent prolonged disruptions while preserving the system’s overall security objectives.
Pre-registration could ease future congestion
Authorities and travel providers also hope that pre-registration tools will reduce waiting times as adoption increases.
Several countries have introduced EES pre-registration options that allow travelers to submit certain information before arriving at border checkpoints. Some airports have also deployed self-service kiosks to streamline enrollment.
Additionally, returning travelers should experience faster processing because their biometric records already exist within the system.
These measures are expected to reduce queues over time as more visitors complete their first biometric registration.
Nevertheless, first-time travelers will likely continue experiencing longer processing times until enrollment levels increase across the system.
Security benefits remain the central argument
Supporters argue that temporary disruptions represent a necessary adjustment during one of Europe’s largest border modernization projects.
The European Commission has consistently maintained that the EES strengthens border security while improving the accuracy of entry and exit records. The system also gives authorities better tools to identify overstays, detect fraudulent identities, and monitor cross-border movements.
According to the European Commission, the EES applies to millions of non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area each year, replacing manual passport stamps with digital records.
Critics, however, argue that technical reliability and passenger experience require further attention before the system reaches full operational maturity.
Still, few stakeholders are calling for the program’s abandonment. Instead, the debate has shifted toward improving software stability, expanding pre-registration, and refining border procedures.
Focus shifts from rollout to optimization
Europe’s biometric border transformation has entered a new phase. Rather than questioning the need for digital border controls, governments and transport operators are increasingly focused on making the system operate more efficiently.
France’s endorsement reinforces political support for the EES, even as airports and transport companies continue reporting congestion.
Meanwhile, software improvements, operational flexibility, and expanded pre-registration will likely determine how quickly waiting times decline.
For now, travelers should expect occasional delays during their first biometric registration. However, authorities remain confident that processing times will improve as the technology matures and more travelers complete their initial enrollment.
By DiscoA340 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
