British ministers have privately appealed to Brussels to relax new post-Brexit border regulations, expressing significant concerns that they could disrupt summer holiday travel. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has urged European officials to adopt a "pragmatic and flexible" approach to the EU's Entry-Exit System (EES) to prevent United Kingdom holidaymakers from facing queues of up to five hours.
During a meeting on Tuesday with the EU's transport chief, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Alexander reportedly advocated for extending measures that allow EU countries to temporarily suspend the EES rules when queues become problematic. These flexibilities are currently set to expire in September. She also proposed that EU countries should have the discretion to suspend the rules whenever necessary.
These concerns coincide with the upcoming summer break, as schools prepare to close for holidays, intensifying travel demands. The port of Dover anticipates its busiest weekend of the year, with fears of substantial queues. To mitigate potential gridlock, the UK government has secured Lydden Hill motor racing track, approximately five miles from Dover, as a contingency site to hold vehicles if traffic becomes unmanageable on the routes to the port and the Eurotunnel.
The EES, which became fully operational in April, mandates that non-EU citizens provide biometric data, including a photograph and fingerprints, upon entry and exit from the Schengen zone to ensure compliance with stay limits. British citizens are subject to these rules following Brexit, and initial registrations can extend border crossing times.
Alexander stated that she is collaborating with EU and French counterparts to ensure a pragmatic and flexible application of the EES this summer, emphasizing efforts to maintain the flow of holidaymakers and hauliers. The UK has also committed over £20 million to enhance vehicle movement and increase passport booth capacity at Dover to help reduce delays.
It is understood that Alexander did not request an exemption for British citizens from the EES, as previous such requests have been denied by Brussels. However, the 29 Schengen member states are permitted to suspend the system during peak times. National border forces are required to reapply for these suspensions when bottlenecks occur, rather than implementing them proactively. The current flexibility arrangements conclude in September.
There are apprehensions that an surge in passenger numbers during the peak summer season could lead to queues exceeding five hours at some European travel hubs. In April, approximately 100 passengers returning to Manchester Airport from Milan's Linate airport were reportedly stranded for three hours due to EES queues, causing them to miss their EasyJet flight.
Meanwhile, the planned introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), a visa waiver for non-EU nationals, appears to have been postponed. Etias, which would require UK citizens to pay approximately £17 for authorization before visiting Schengen countries, was initially slated for launch in the final quarter of the year. Its introduction is now unlikely before next year.
An EU Commission spokesperson affirmed that all possible efforts are being made to minimize the impact of these systems on travelers from outside the EU.