Thousands of travellers have already been turned away at EU borders due to the new Entry/Exit System (EES), it has emerged.
The EES came into full effect today (April 10), and replaces traditional passport stamping with electronic registration and biometric scanners.
In a report release by Brussels today, it said that since its initial launch in October, the system has recorded more than 52 million crossings.
During that time, over 27,000 people have been denied entry, including nearly 700 individuals identified as posing a possible threat to the bloc.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the system gives authorities greater oversight of movement across borders, allowing them to track who is entering and leaving the EU, and when.
The system became fully operational on Friday across all external borders of the participating countries.
It applies to most EU nations – excluding Ireland and Cyprus – as well as non-EU members in the Schengen area such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Under the new process, non-EU visitors entering for short stays must provide passport details, fingerprints and a facial image at automated checkpoints.
This information is stored digitally, enabling authorities to share data more efficiently and monitor entries and exits more closely.
The EU’s executive vice-president for security and democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said the system will help identify risks in real time and crack down on people overstaying their visas.
However, the rollout has sparked concern among airlines and travellers, with fears it could lead to longer waiting times at airports and border crossings.
The Commission insists the process is quick, saying registration takes around 70 seconds on average, and that it is working closely with member states to ensure a smooth implementation.
