“November 10 is no longer on the table,” EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters. She said there was no new timetable, but that the possibility of a phased introduction was being looked at. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is supposed to create a digital record linking a travel document to biometric readings confirming a person’s identity, removing the need to manually stamp passports at the EU’s external border.
It would require non-EU citizens arriving in the Schengen free-travel area to register their fingerprints, provide a facial scan and answer questions about their stay. But a spokesperson for the German interior ministry said the three countries, representing 40% of the affected passenger traffic, were not ready to implement EES because the “necessary stability and functionality of the EES central system to be provided by the EU agency EU-Lisa is not yet in place”.
EU-Lisa is the agency responsible for the implementation of large-scale IT systems within the EU.
The French interior ministry said that, while France was convinced of the usefulness of EES, its introduction must be prepared properly. The British government and tour operators have been warning for weeks that the introduction of the new system could lead to airport chaos and long delays. The new Entry-Exit System (EES) was due to have started on October 6 but was then pushed back to November 10 after lobbying from French officials. Now no new date has been set.
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Well Morgan, just taking 3 "out back" centres, Porto Colom, Porto Petro, and Santanyi, in the high summer it was necessary to book even for one, this year without booking a table of choice. So I do wonder where you are, and perhaps more restaurateurs should sell up and move to your area. However, the good news is the the Schengen official app is up and working, on their web page, and when maybe the EES eventually exists, this will obviously be the "data" centre for calculating your stay. I have personally found the offered smart phone apps (pay or free) are not fit for purpose after designing my own spreadsheet calculator.
Nigel Maude"Morgan, as you seem to live in Palma, business might be as normal, but for those 50+ km outside it is pretty desolate and has been all spring, summer and autumn" For the record, I'm nowhere near Palma, but smack in the middle of that desolate wasteland you appear to be referring to. Yet it equally appears as if you're either in Palma or Calvia or not even in Mallorca, because this year has been nothing less than a banner year for tourism in Mallorca, including out here in the uncharted outback. And it's still going pretty strong. Ok, maybe only a few more tourists than usual for this time of year, and naturally, nothing like mid summer, when those desolate villages, their streets, restaurants, shops, supermarkets and bars in the uncharted wasteland were packed with tourists, but next year's booking season has already started - also a bit earlier than usual. We'll see what the numbers say after the new year begins, but I'll wager it's been in the top 3 of all time.
Ulla JacksonObviously not. After being orphaned and being looked after by several foster parents, I left school at fourteen, and seeing that I was in God’s own country, went to work in the textile industry. It was hard and rough but I managed to pull through. Unfortunately the last thing on my mind was respect for other nationalities, religion or colour, especially after working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week and then having to queue for a bowl of gruel. I will though try and do better and do my best to become a valued member of this community.
Richard PearsonSorry should have written the UK.
Richard PearsonBrought up properly? Reading your comments over many months, I'm not sure we have same standards. I was brought up to respect people of different nationalities, colour and religions. We are all British, and maybe better leave at that in the future. Hopefully that is acceptable to you as the restrictions whatever they are in EU, affect ANY country outside, including BRITAIN.
Ulla Jackson“Mr Pearson, it's about time to stop personal comments on Mr Williams, often referring to his nationality, although not this time. Personal "attacks" should not belong in any papers section” Thanks for the advice. I have filed it for future reference. I’m pretty sure that I will be able to use it more often than you can imagine. Having said this, can then the English born and bred readers be assured that Mr Williams will refrain from referring to England and the English in the despective manner he frequently uses to talk about us in the past ? Will you, from now on, admonish him if he does ? I will be watching. Maybe though, I should start with Mr Williams’s comment published today: “Richard doesn't really need any help making a fool of himself. He's doing a great job all by himself” I would sincerely like to invert the names, but having been bought up proper, I will abstain from doing so.
Per TouretteDrug dealers, ie.kids with no work? Surely, these guys are "local"? Mr Big has his private jet. What has Schengen to do with them, they are free to wander through 27 countries! Morgan, as you seem to live in Palma, business might be as normal, but for those 50+ km outside it is pretty desolate and has been all spring, summer and autumn. Except of course the roads.
Ulla JacksonThanks for that, However, Richard doesn't really need any help making a fool of himself. He's doing a great job all by himself. I mean, this doesn't affect me one way or another, so I'm not sure why he'd think I should be "disappointed" (?). He, however, is surely breathing a sigh of relief, since it could buy him another year or two before he gets caught. Fines, back taxes levied, and deportation. Not pretty. And yes, the English tabloids have done a good job of scaring away a few Brits with all their imaginary atrocities Brits face when coming to Magaluf. But the "loss of autumn tourism" that beachcomer keeps hoping for, well, one need only visit the airport, restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions to see that the end of tourist season isn't quite here yet. But this imaginary downturn helps validate his non-existent point. Besides, Brits always stop coming at this time of year, so Magaluf is naturally winding down for its annual winter shutdown. Maybe that's what he's referring to? Next up: British bookings fall dramatically. Tagline: 75% less Brits arrive than just 2 months ago. Mallorca terrified.
I flew into Malaga just over a week ago and passed through what I assumed to be the area set aside for the operation of the intended new system. The "chicane" leading up to the barriers was enormous. The airport was obviously expecting vast queues, far in excess of the queues under the existing system.
Les ChaseThat can, and has happened with any IT system, with great and difficult implications. It does not mean it needs to be scrapped.