https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As the EU's Entry and Exit system (EES) comes into force, Italy’s international residents say they've found themselves waiting much longer at the border than tourists - despite being exempt. https://www.thelocal.com/20260416/ive-had-three-different-answers-ees-causes-delays-and-confusion-for-italys-residents Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:20:42 +0200 ive-had-three-different-answers-ees-causes-delays-and-confusion-for-italys-residents Despite claims that the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks would be "fully operational" by April 10th, many airports have reported disruption and some Channel ports don't even have the technology for full rollout yet. https://www.thelocal.com/20260411/full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:56:38 +0200 full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU's new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.” https://www.thelocal.com/20260330/european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:31:07 +0200 european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms The British government has alerted UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter about the full implementation of EU’s new Entry/Exit border system (EES), urging travellers to allow additional time for journeys. https://www.thelocal.com/20260327/uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:40:25 +0100 uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks The EU's new Entry & Exit System of border control started on October 12th - but a phased introduction means that not everyone travelling to and from France is affected by the new system. https://www.thelocal.com/20250930/ees-calendar-when-will-new-border-checks-be-enforced-between-france-and-uk Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:37:06 +0200 ees-calendar-when-will-new-border-checks-be-enforced-between-france-and-uk One of the stated aims of the EU's new EES system of biometric passport checks is to catch people who 'over-stay' the 90-day limit, and 4,000 of those have been caught in the first months of its implementation, according to an EU official. https://www.thelocal.com/20260224/eus-ees-biometric-passport-checks-catch-4000-over-stayers-in-first-4-months Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:34:18 +0100 eus-ees-biometric-passport-checks-catch-4000-over-stayers-in-first-4-months Airlines across Europe have called on EU chiefs to review the ongoing roll-out for the EES biometric border checks amid fears the system will lead to border chaos this summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20260211/4-hour-queues-europes-airlines-and-airports-fear-summer-travel-chaos Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:32:29 +0100 4-hour-queues-europes-airlines-and-airports-fear-summer-travel-chaos Member States will have the green light to partially suspend Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES), the new EU digital border system, over the summer to avoid any travel chaos at ports and airports during peak season. https://www.thelocal.com/20260131/eu-delays-full-rollout-of-ees-border-system-over-travel-chaos-concerns Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:03 +0100 eu-delays-full-rollout-of-ees-border-system-over-travel-chaos-concerns The roll out of Europe's EES biometric border system was due to be stepped up this week across Europe, but what does that mean for travellers heading between France and the UK via Dover, the Eurotunnel or Eurostar terminals? https://www.thelocal.com/20260114/whats-the-latest-on-rollout-of-eurostar-eurotunnel-and-dover-ees-border-checks Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:28:48 +0100 whats-the-latest-on-rollout-of-eurostar-eurotunnel-and-dover-ees-border-checks Hoteliers and tourism bosses are calling for more police and fully functioning passport control machines at Spanish airports to fix the problem of long waits for Brits and other non-EU tourists since the rollout of the EU’s new Entry Exit System. https://www.thelocal.com/20260112/hoteliers-urge-spain-to-fix-long-airport-waits-for-uk-tourists-since-ees-launch Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:24:21 +0100 hoteliers-urge-spain-to-fix-long-airport-waits-for-uk-tourists-since-ees-launch The association of European airports called on Thursday for an urgent review of the new EU border system, amid “mounting operational issues” that could affect the holiday season. https://www.thelocal.com/20251218/mayhem-and-chaos-europes-airports-demand-urgent-review-of-new-border-system Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:06:28 +0100 mayhem-and-chaos-europes-airports-demand-urgent-review-of-new-border-system Are you a non-resident, non-EU traveller planning on visiting Spain soon? Here are the airports where you may still find problems with the rollout of the EU's new Entry/Exit System. https://www.thelocal.com/20251202/which-airports-in-spain-are-having-problems-with-the-ees-launch Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:04:59 +0100 which-airports-in-spain-are-having-problems-with-the-ees-launch The EU's new biometric passport checks known as EES are now officially in force - but not all passengers at French airports will be asked to use the new procedure. https://www.thelocal.com/20251020/gradual-rollout-how-french-airports-are-dealing-with-ees-biometric-passport-checks Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:39:53 +0200 gradual-rollout-how-french-airports-are-dealing-with-ees-biometric-passport-checks From Sunday, non-EU travellers entering Europe's Schengen open-borders zone will gradually be photographed and fingerprinted at border crossings, as the European Union rolls out its much-delayed automated border checks. https://www.thelocal.com/20251012/europe-rolls-out-automated-border-checks Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:27:13 +0200 europe-rolls-out-automated-border-checks The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls will be launched on October 12th, albeit in a phased in approach, but how will it impact non-EU residents legally living in EU/Schengen countries? https://www.thelocal.com/20240427/reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:59:09 +0200 reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Switzerland will introduce the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) from October 12th, with Geneva, Zurich, and Basel EuroAIrport set to implement the checks for non-EU travellers. https://www.thelocal.com/20250912/what-we-know-about-switzerlands-rollout-of-ees-checks-at-airports Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:45:56 +0200 what-we-know-about-switzerlands-rollout-of-ees-checks-at-airports Non-EU travellers heading to EU/Schengen countries will soon face biometric border controls as the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force from October 12th. But can travellers opt out? https://www.thelocal.com/20251003/can-i-opt-out-of-giving-my-biometrics-under-europes-new-border-checks Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:07:28 +0200 can-i-opt-out-of-giving-my-biometrics-under-europes-new-border-checks As countries prepare for the introduction of the EU's new EES border control system, the French port of Calais has unveiled the process for people travelling between France and the UK. https://www.thelocal.com/20251003/french-port-of-calais-unveils-start-dates-for-ees-border-checks Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:38:12 +0200 french-port-of-calais-unveils-start-dates-for-ees-border-checks Changes to border procedures as part of the EU's new EES seem to suggest that British tourists would require proof of medical insurance in order to enter France - here's a breakdown of the new rules. https://www.thelocal.com/20250929/whats-the-deal-with-ees-and-medical-insurance-for-british-tourists-in-france Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:05:36 +0200 whats-the-deal-with-ees-and-medical-insurance-for-british-tourists-in-france Eurostar has confirmed that it will begin its rollout of the EU's new biometric border checks on October 12th, but only for certain passengers and on a voluntary basis. The big launch will come in 2026. https://www.thelocal.com/20250923/eurostar-to-begin-voluntary-ees-checks-in-october-before-main-january-launch Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:41:59 +0200 eurostar-to-begin-voluntary-ees-checks-in-october-before-main-january-launch