We’ve detailed what ETIAS is and how it might impact your travel plans, highlighting potential delays due to “EU Entry/Exit System (EES) issues” and the upcoming implementation of the EES in autumn 2024. This article dives deeper into the latest developments regarding the Entry/Exit System.
Understanding the EES
To provide a comprehensive update on the Entry/Exit System, we need to go back to its origins. Document 32017R2226 refers to “Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017,” which established the EES to register entry, exit, and refusal data for third-country nationals crossing EU external borders and outlined conditions for law enforcement access to the EES.
Initially, the focus was on the European Commission’s recommendation for electronic recognition of third-country nationals’ (TCNs) entry and exit at EU borders. The system would record the time, location, name, travel document type, and biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) of TCNs, eliminating the need for passport stamps by airport immigration staff.
Recording the date and location is crucial for enforcing the 90-day stay limit within any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Besides tracking visa-free travellers, the EES will also monitor short-stay visa holders’ movements.
The EES aims to enhance security by documenting refusals of entry and their reasons, facilitating easier storage and sharing of visitor data. It will also help track TCNs who overstay or travel unauthorized within EU member states.
Challenges with the EU Entry/Exit System
Delays in the EES implementation were caused by issues with contractors, pushing the original 2022 launch to mid-2023. Further outsourcing complications have postponed the timeline to late 2023 and beyond. With 2024 underway, the EES is still not operational.
France advocated for delaying the EES until after the 2024 Paris Olympics. The latest rumored start date is October 6, 2024, though many EU and non-EU states are calling for further postponement.
As a TCN, you will use the EES self-service when entering and exiting EU member states (excluding Cyprus and Ireland) and the four non-EU Schengen Area countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Despite Brexit, EES procedures will apply to ferry crossings from Dover and international train services due to the British-French border arrangements. Dover’s popularity with car and coach passengers could complicate the process further.
Insights from RIF Trust on the EES
Ilana van Huyssteen-Meyer, our European Residency and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) specialist, voices common concerns about the EES. She highlights the reliance on AI for facial recognition, noting, “Our experience with AI shows it can sometimes produce erroneous results. Can we trust it to be accurate? Could it discriminate against travelers based on disability or ethnicity?”
She adds, “Your biometric data will be stored for three years, which may feel like a privacy invasion.”
“Our final concern,” van Huyssteen-Meyer continues, “is the self-service nature of the EES. While it’s designed to reduce delays, initial implementation may lead to more delays as travelers adjust to the new system.”
“EES will widen the gap between those with and without resources. To avoid issues, consider obtaining a European resident card or passport.”
“I recommend Malta, where you can apply for citizenship through the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) program or the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP).”
The article covers ETIAS and the delayed implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), now expected in autumn 2024, which aims to enhance security by recording data for third-country nationals. Concerns include AI reliability, privacy, and initial delays. RIF Trust advises obtaining European residency or citizenship to bypass EES issues.
How to Navigate the Entry/Exit System
Ilana van Huyssteen-Meyer suggests that you can bypass the need to use the EES by obtaining European Residency and Citizenship through Investment (RCBI). Options include securing Greek, Portuguese, or Spanish Golden Visas. For those interested in exploring these solutions, don’t hesitate to contact RIF Trust today to discuss your European RCBI options.
Source: Riftrust.com
