The EU's new border system has sparked a wave of frustration among travelers, with long queues and delays becoming the new norm. This is particularly concerning for UK nationals, who are now facing a nearly tripled wait time at passport control. The digital Entry Exit System (EES), designed to streamline border processes, has instead caused chaos and confusion. The system, which requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and photos upon arrival, is plagued by technical glitches and inefficiencies. This has led to hours-long queues and missed flights, as reported by passengers at various airports across Europe. The situation is especially dire at Rome's Fiumicino airport, where the integration of EES with e-gates has not improved the overall process. Instead, it has led to longer wait times, with UK nationals now spending up to 20 minutes at the border, compared to the pre-EES average of seven minutes. The complexity of the system and the duplication of processes have been identified as key issues. The airport's Chief Aviation Officer, Ivan Bassato, believes that authorities should remove duplication and encourage more countries to use the EU's pre-registration app. However, the European Commission (EC) has not yet made any changes to allow states to proactively suspend the process during busy times. The EC has also acknowledged the system's bugs, which have caused disruptions across member states. In Portugal, border police at Faro airport have reported similar issues, with waits of over an hour becoming increasingly common. Despite these challenges, the EC remains committed to supporting member states in the system's implementation. However, the current situation raises questions about the effectiveness of the EES and the need for urgent improvements to ensure a seamless travel experience for all.
