The European Union is moving forward with a major overhaul of its external border controls through the introduction of a new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES). The initiative, which has been in development since 2016, aims to combat identity theft, bolster the fight against terrorism, and ensure better compliance with visitor stay limits for non-EU nationals.
Digital system to record biometric data of non-EU travelers
The new IT system—developed under a provisional agreement between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament—will digitally register the entry and exit of travelers from third countries, meaning individuals from outside both the EU and the Schengen area. The system will collect personal details such as passport information, fingerprints, facial images, and travel dates.
With nearly 420 million people living across the 29 countries of the Schengen zone, the EES aims to replace traditional passport stamping with a real-time, interoperable digital database accessible by border authorities across the region.
Strengthening EU border security through digital transformation
According to the EU’s press release, the main goals of the EES are to:
- Reduce instances of identity fraud;
- Enhance the ability to track and prevent terrorist threats;
- Allow authorities to monitor compliance with permitted visit durations more efficiently.
“Thanks to this agreement, member states will be able to implement the new border control system to record entries and exits into the Schengen area for non-EU citizens,” said Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s Minister of the Interior and Administration. “This is good news and will support our efforts to keep our borders secure,” he added.
Gradual rollout expected within six months
The EES will be deployed by eu-LISA, the EU’s agency responsible for large-scale IT systems, in collaboration with national authorities. Once the agreement is officially ratified by both the Council and the Parliament, member countries will have up to six months to begin phasing in the system.
The Schengen area, launched in 1985 as an intergovernmental project, allows for passport-free travel among participating countries. While Iceland, Switzerland, and Norway are Schengen members but not part of the EU, Ireland participates in select aspects of the Schengen agreement, and Greenland is also included.
This new digital infrastructure represents a significant technological leap in how Europe secures its borders while facilitating mobility within its visa-free travel zone.
