EU to Gradually Implement Biometric Entry and Exit System

The European Union is set to initiate a long-awaited biometric entry and exit system (EES) for managing border controls, allowing member states to implement the system gradually over a six-month period.

Following a decision by the EU Council, countries eager to adopt the new system can start operating it in phases. This development comes after years of delays, with the Council's recent position facilitating the creation of an IT register for the EES within the stipulated timeframe. The plan aims to provide border authorities and the transport sector with additional time needed for the integration of these new procedures.

Countries that choose to proceed swiftly are encouraged to achieve a goal where at least 10% of border crossings at specific checkpoints are recorded within the first month. For the initial 60 days, the EES may be utilized without biometric features. By the end of the three-month mark, participating nations are expected to implement biometric functionalities at no fewer than half of their border crossing points. The ultimate objective is to ensure comprehensive monitoring of all individuals by the conclusion of the six-month period.

Despite these plans, reports indicate that border authorities in Germany, France, and the Netherlands have yet to complete the final tests necessary for their national systems related to the EES.

The EES, part of the 'Smart Borders' initiative, will require citizens from non-EU countries to register their biometric information, including four fingerprints and a facial image, upon entering the EU. This database is intended to enhance border control efficiency, allowing for the calculation of permissible durations of short stays and automatically alerting national security agencies if individuals overstay their allowances.

The EU's IT agency, EU-Lisa, had originally aimed for the EES to be operational by 2022. However, substantial delays have plagued the project, which EU-Lisa attributes to the consortium of companies responsible for developing the system--primarily IBM, Atos, and Leonardo--underestimating the complexities involved. The agency noted that the project team was insufficiently staffed and lacked the necessary expertise, while internal coordination and communication with EU-Lisa were not effective. Recent reports also suggest that the EU's prosecutor's office is investigating Atos due to the involvement of a subsidiary in Moscow in connection with the EES contract.