BRUSSELS — EU member states will be able to introduce a new digital border management system in phases over six months, under a regulation backed by the Council on Wednesday.
The plan allows countries to begin using the Entry/Exit System (EES) while giving border authorities and transport industries more time to adjust.
“I am very pleased that during the Polish presidency of the EU Council, which focuses on security issues, it was possible to make such significant progress in the control and protection of our external borders,” said Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak. “The solution adopted is, on the one hand, flexible and, on the other hand, guarantees the security of migratory movements.”
The EES will digitally record non-EU nationals’ entry and exit data, including passport details, fingerprints and facial images.
Under the Council’s plan, member states will start by registering at least 10% of border crossings in the first month. For the first 60 days, they can operate the system without biometric functionalities. After three months, at least half of all border crossings should be processed using the EES, with full deployment expected by the end of the transition period.
Until then, border officials will continue stamping travel documents manually. The regulation does not set a start date for deployment, which will require a separate decision by the European Commission.
The Council’s decision allows countries to implement the system at different speeds, with some able to fully launch the EES immediately.
To ensure stability, the regulation emphasizes monitoring the EES Central System’s performance. It also calls on eu-LISA, the EU agency overseeing large-scale IT systems, to confirm performance targets and strategies for handling potential defects.
The Council’s position now serves as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament, which has yet to finalize its stance. A common agreement between the two institutions is required before the regulation becomes law.
The EES was initially set to launch at the end of 2024, but concerns over system resilience led the Commission to propose a gradual start. Once operational, the EES will give EU states real-time access to third-country nationals’ biometric data, travel history and compliance with visa rules, aiming to reduce identity fraud and overstays in the Schengen Area.
