Holidaymakers warned of huge delays ahead of major EU rule change in October
manchestereveningnews.co.ukBrits travelling to Europe have been warned of delays from October when new EU border checks will be implemented. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to come into force from October 6 to boost border security.
It will involve travellers from non-EU countries - such as the UK - having their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database the first time they enter a member state, with the data stored for three years.
There are concerns this will cause queues at the Port of Dover, Folkestone Eurotunnel terminal and St Pancras station, which are sites where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys, Wales Online reports.
Phil Smith, UK coach manager at trade body the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “It is vital – for coach passengers and the sustainability of coach travel to Europe – that UK ports make sure that systems are in place so that the EU’s new Entry and Exit system does not cause long delays when it comes into force in October. READ MORE: Manchester Airport worker shares advice for holidaymakers to avoid queues “UK coach companies travelling to Europe generate significant amounts of revenue for the UK economy and for the countries to which people travel by coach – more than £14 billion every year from around 23 million individual coach trips.
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