European Union files lawsuit against tech firms over border system delays

The EES mandates biometric data collection – fingerprints and photographs – from visitors from countries like the UK before they can enter the Schengen Area, comprised of 29 European nations. The system’s rollout has been marred by extensive queues and disruptions, impacting travelers across several airports including those in Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. In April, over 100 easyJet passengers missed a flight from Milan Linate to Manchester due to passport control delays.

The Port of Dover declared a “critical incident” in May, with wait times reaching four-and-a-half hours during a period handling approximately 8,500 outbound tourist vehicles.

In 2019, a consortium including IBM Belgium, Atos Belgium, and Leonardo was awarded a six-year contract to implement and maintain the EES. EU-Lisa stated that the legal proceedings are focused on delays during the system’s development phase and do not affect its current operation.

While member states were granted a temporary reprieve over the summer, allowing them to partially suspend checks, this measure ended in September. Ryanair has publicly criticized the EU’s handling of the new border controls, with Chief Operational Officer Neal McMahon stating, “The EU’s handling of EES has been a shambles from start to finish.”

The EES was initially slated for full implementation by April, but a 150-day grace period was granted to avoid widespread travel chaos. This period concluded on September 6th. However, at least nine countries – France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland – have reportedly informed the European Commission that they will delay full implementation until the technology is fully functional.