Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002000/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Assita Kanko (ECR)
On 3 September 2024, the Commissioner for Home Affairs announced that the new Entry/Exit System (EES) would finally launch on 10 November 2024.
The EES Regulation[1] stipulates that the Commission should set an operation launch date only when eu-Lisa has declared the successful completion of a comprehensive test in cooperation with the Member States, and after the Member States have declared their readiness.
As the launch of EES will challenge border infrastructure and is likely to increase traveller processing times, at least initially, any lack of preparedness may lead to long queues and disruption. While I fully agree that EES should be put in place as soon as possible to enhance security, everything should be done to avoid negatively affecting legitimate travellers who contribute to our economy and transport sector.
I understand that three Member States have not yet declared their readiness. I also understand that the Commission is considering a partial launch of EES, which would be limited to the Member States that have declared their readiness.
- 1.Can the Commission confirm that a full EU-wide launch will only happen when the required legal conditions are in place?
- 2.Can the Commission explain what a partial launch would look like?
- 3.Can the Commission confirm that contingency plans are in place should the launch of EES present difficulties, including excessive delays, for travellers?
Submitted: 9.10.2024
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2017 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States and determining the conditions for access to the EES for law enforcement purposes, and amending the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement and Regulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EU) No 1077/2011 (OJ L 327, 9.12.2017, p. 20, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/2226/oj).