European Union countries have begun to reconsider the new biometric border control system. The reason is significant delays and queues following its launch.
Several EU countries have rejected the new biometric border control system due to queues.
This is reported by The Sun.
The EES system officially started on April 10, 2026, and requires mandatory facial and fingerprint scanning when crossing the border. However, it caused significant delays in the first few days.
Greece was the first to announce the suspension of biometric procedures. They decided to return to the usual passport stamping to reduce the load on the checkpoints.
Portugal is applying a similar practice: in the case of large queues, travelers are allowed to pass without scanning. Experts predict that the country may officially adopt this approach.
Italy is also preparing changes. After the incident in Milan, where only 34 out of 156 passengers on a flight were able to depart, the authorities are considering the possibility of returning to passport stamping.
Refusing biometric procedures is not considered a violation of EU rules. Regulations allow for a temporary suspension of the system in case of significant delays at the border.
The duration of such a suspension can be up to 90 days, with the possibility of extending it for another 60 days. Thus, the restrictions may be in place until approximately September 2026.
