FOCUS – Nine EU countries again delay new border controls for non-bloc citizens

– Nine European Union countries, including France, Greece, Italy and Portugal, have asked for more time for the full implementation of the new border control system for citizens who are not EU nationals, according to The Guardian.

The system called EES (Entry/Exit System) electronically registers travelers entering and exiting the Schengen zone.

Instead of stamping passports, the system records the traveler’s data, including fingerprints and facial image.

The system was supposed to be fully implemented on September 6, 2026, but several countries have requested delays due to problems at airports and the risk of creating long queues.

Besides France, Greece, Portugal and Italy, Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium have also asked for more time.

Meanwhile, Spain is implementing the system fully.

Why are the border controls being delayed?

The main problem is the large number of travelers and the limited capacity of airports to register fingerprints and faces.

According to EU sources, only 12 of around 1,500 border points still have problems implementing the system.

At some major European airports, such as Frankfurt and Schiphol, biometric checks are already being carried out. But some smaller airports are not yet fully ready.

What has the system revealed so far?

According to EU sources, the EES has so far been considered a success.

Around 200 million registrations have been made and about 70,000 people have been denied entry to the Schengen zone.

Among them were: people who did not have a visa when they needed one; people who had stayed longer than the permitted period; British citizens who had exceeded the 90-day permitted limit; and people using forged passports or identity documents.

The registration of fingerprints and facial photographs has also helped authorities detect people who used different passports to hide their identity.

What about Albanian travelers?

This part is particularly important for Albanians. Albania is not in the EU, so Albanian citizens traveling to the Schengen zone are affected by the EES.

When entering Schengen, the Albanian traveler will be registered in the system and will have their fingerprints and facial photograph taken, according to the new procedures.

Implementation is also not yet the same at all border points, so at some airports travelers may face longer queues and delays.

Another development

The EU is also preparing the “Travel to Europe” app, through which travelers will be able to pre-register their facial photograph and passport data before traveling.

According to sources cited by The Guardian, the app is expected to become operational soon in seven countries.

Currently, it is reported to be functional only in Sweden and Portugal.