Source: European Parliament
On 18 February, LIBE held a debate aimed to address the ongoing delays in the launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES), a critical element of the EU’s border strategy and interoperability framework.
Stakeholders discussed the reasons behind the repeated delays and the steps being taken by the Council, the Commission, and eu-LISA to prevent further setbacks. The Commission also outlined its recent legislative proposal for a phased roll-out of the system, as the original plan for a full deployment across all Member States is no longer feasible.
Members expressed concerns that these delays reflect a weakness in Schengen, highlighting the impact on other key systems such as the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). There were also concerns about the potential influence of Russian interference in the development of EES.