Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) faces new criticism as long airport queues and faulty registrations expose execution problems.
At Brussels Airport, non-European travelers recently waited for up to five hours to go through border control. The delays were associated with the EES implementation.
At the same time, reports show that Gibraltar residents were wrongly registered despite being exempt from the EES requirement.
These issues surface as European officials continue investing in border technology.
Meanwhile, Frontex has announced a new €12 million purchasing program for technical equipment on September 28.
But the procurement supposedly does not address the EES issues. Rather, it supports the overarching efforts to fortify European border operations.
Brussels Airport passengers face waits of up to five hours
Brussels Airport has become one of the clearest examples of the operational pressure surrounding EES.
Last week, non-European passengers waited up to five hours to enter Belgium through the airport.
Previously, travelers from some countries could register through EES kiosks before using automated gates. Now, more passengers must pass through border control posts staffed by officers.
Consequently, the change has increased pressure on border personnel.
Authorities are training additional police officers for border control posts. The airport also said work continues on longer-term solutions.
However, the latest disruption follows months of problems.
In August, average peak waiting times at Brussels Airport exceeded two hours. That compared with just over one hour during the previous summer.
Moreover, several hundred passengers had reportedly missed flights since the new digital border registration system was introduced.
Gibraltar reports incorrect EES registrations
While Brussels highlights problems with waiting times, Gibraltar has raised concerns about the accuracy of EES implementation.
The Gibraltar Government recently asked residents to report cases where border officials incorrectly registered them after July 15.
Under new treaty arrangements, Gibraltar residents are exempt from EES controls when crossing external Schengen borders.
Nevertheless, some residents have been registered at European border points despite that exemption.
The problem could become more complicated when the system records an entry without a corresponding exit.
In those cases, EES may continue counting the traveler’s time inside the Schengen Area.
“This sets off the 90-day in 180-day counter,” Gibraltar Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia said earlier this month.
According to Garcia, the Schengen Area has about 1,500 external border crossing points across airports, seaports and land borders.
Therefore, information about Gibraltar’s new exemption may not yet have reached every border officer.
The Gibraltar Government is now discussing a process for deleting EES registrations that should not remain in the system.
Currently, travelers also lack a public tool that directly confirms whether authorities have registered them in EES.
Frontex launches €12 million equipment procurement
Meanwhile, Frontex is continuing to expand the technical resources available for European border operations.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency launched a €12 million Dynamic Purchasing System for technical equipment on September 28.
The purchasing system will support equipment procurement for the Frontex Standing Corps.
The investment comes as European countries increasingly rely on technology to manage external borders and process travelers.
However, Frontex has not presented the procurement program as a specific solution to the current EES disruptions.
Instead, the initiative sits within the EU’s broader push to modernize and strengthen border management.
Cyprus prepares to introduce EES in March 2027
Even as participating countries address implementation problems, the EES rollout is not yet complete.
Cyprus expects to install the system in March 2027, police official Michalis Katsounotos told lawmakers this month.
Authorities have already made “significant progress” on the necessary technology, according to Katsounotos.
Furthermore, Cyprus is upgrading government IT infrastructure and connecting databases that track foreign nationals entering and leaving the country.
The country could potentially draw lessons from implementation problems experienced elsewhere.
EES has been fully operational at participating countries’ external borders since April 10, 2026. Cyprus and Ireland remain outside the current implementation.
How the EES changes travel to Europe
The EES replaces manual passport stamping with digital records for applicable non-EU nationals making short stays.
The system electronically records entries and exits while collecting information including fingerprints and facial images.
It covers travelers visiting participating European countries for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
As a result, authorities can digitally calculate how long affected travelers have remained within the participating European area.
However, the Gibraltar cases demonstrate why accurate entries and exits remain important.
An incorrect record could potentially produce an inaccurate calculation of a traveler’s remaining permitted stay.
At the same time, airport delays demonstrate the operational challenge of processing additional traveler information at busy borders.
EES shifts from rollout to operational challenge
Europe’s EES has now moved beyond its initial launch phase. The bigger challenge is making the system work efficiently at scale.
Recent developments show that process, staffing and technical issues remain.
Brussels Airport continues to experience lengthy queues, while Gibraltar is seeking corrections for improperly registered residents.
Meanwhile, Cyprus is preparing to implement the technology next year, and Frontex continues investing in European border capabilities.
For travelers, the system’s success will ultimately depend on two factors: accurate records and efficient border processing.
Photo by G-R Mottez on Unsplash
