Europe’s electronic Entry & Exit System, already delayed for years, appears ready to stumble past its latest deadline, although perhaps only by a few weeks.
The system is designed to automatically register arrivals and departures from the Schengen Zone and EU, allowing officials to better track whether visitors have overstayed their welcome, a task formerly done by checking passport stamps.
The Independent (UK) has reported that the October 6th date previously given to airports and transport terminals, will not be met, and that the likely new date will be November 6th.
Several years worth of the delays were down to shifting plans for implementation, while the recent delays have been due to fears that problems with electronic terminals or lack of enough of them, would cause unacceptable delays.
The Independent reports that the EU is considering allowing a ‘soft launch’ that would allow transport operators to bypass the system if there are significant delays at a border crossing point.
