Cross-Channel Travel Avoids Biometric Chaos for Now
Fears of Easter disruptions over EU's new border system eased as Eurotunnel and Eurostar passengers won't face facial ID checks in coming weeks.
Passengers crossing the Channel from the UK to France will not have to undergo new biometric checks in the coming weeks, despite an imminent deadline for the complete implementation of the EU's entry-exit system (EES), according to port authorities. This news comes as a relief, as airlines and airports across Europe had feared chaos over the Easter holidays due to the scaling up of this new border control system.
The EES is designed to track the movements of non-EU citizens entering and exiting the bloc, requiring them to submit fingerprints and a facial scan. Its full implementation was initially scheduled for 2022 but has been repeatedly delayed. Now, it appears that Eurotunnel and Eurostar passengers will not be subject to these biometric checks in the coming weeks, easing concerns about potential disruptions to cross-Channel travel.
Source: The Guardian
