The UK’s new Labor government told Parliament last week that UK sea and land borders aren’t ready for the new EU entry-and-exit system, its new electronic border plan.
Seema Malhotra, a Home Office official said the government was “not content with the level of preparations” left behind by the Conservative government that left office at the beginning of the month. She warned that “The system will increase processing times,” and that disruption was likely when the system starts, currently targeted for October after many delays.
Under the system, travelers entering the Schengen/EU borders will have their biometric data recorded as they pass through, and the system will track how long and when they enter and exit thereafter.
French border police perform the border checks at Eurostar and ferry terminals on British soil before passengers board, and any problems with the system could lead to long backups; one parliamentary estimate was that it could add up to 14 hours of delay.
Malhotta said the UK government is taking immediate steps to make additional space and facilities available for border officers in Dover, the main ferry port and elsewhere, and called on European officials to take a ‘pragmatic’ attitude in case long queues do develop.
