https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The EU/Schengen area's '90-day' rule is a complicated one that causes much confusion for travellers - here we answer some of the most common questions from readers of The Local. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230518/your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Thu, 18 May 2023 11:19:22 +0200 your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule European airport bosses have warned that new EU border checks are significantly increasing waiting times for British nationals arriving in the bloc, in some cases tripling the average. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260720/airport-bosses-warn-eus-new-border-checks-triple-waiting-times-for-brits Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:22:17 +0200 airport-bosses-warn-eus-new-border-checks-triple-waiting-times-for-brits The EU's new EES biometric passport checks have been the subject of controversy and complaints about travel delays, but France's Interior Ministry says they 'protect European citizens on a daily basis', adding that France was taking a 'pragmatic' approach to the rollout. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260720/ees-passport-checks-caused-no-major-congestion-in-france-says-government Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:46:52 +0200 ees-passport-checks-caused-no-major-congestion-in-france-says-government The rollout of Europe's EES biometric border system is supposed to be fully implemented, but for travellers heading between France and the UK via Dover, the Eurotunnel or Eurostar the situation is slightly different. https://www.thelocal.fr/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 As European ports and airports struggle to cope with the full rollout of the EU's new biometric passport checks, the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel have confirmed to The Local that full checks will not be rolled out until the end of the peak summer period. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260715/latest-ees-passport-checks-will-not-be-fully-implemented-at-dover-and-eurotunnel-this-summer Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:09:13 +0200 latest-ees-passport-checks-will-not-be-fully-implemented-at-dover-and-eurotunnel-this-summer The EU's border agency Frontex developed an app allowing travellers to pre-register for its Entry/Exit System rollout. With the summer travel season upon us and queues expected at tourist hotspots, what happened to the app and which countries are using it? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260713/which-european-countries-are-already-using-the-ees-pre-registration-app Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:23:13 +0200 which-european-countries-are-already-using-the-ees-pre-registration-app In the first six months of operation of the new EU digital border system, the Entry-Exit System (EES), more than 8,700 travellers were denied entry into Europe's border-free Schengen area because they had stayed beyond their permitted time limit. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260520/ees-7000-overstayers-snared-since-launch-of-eus-new-schengen-border-checks Wed, 20 May 2026 14:37:30 +0200 ees-7000-overstayers-snared-since-launch-of-eus-new-schengen-border-checks The European Commission is refusing to suspend strict new border controls despite pressure from airports and airlines who have demanded they be put on hold until after summer amid fears of chaos at holiday hotspots. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260708/europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:42:33 +0200 europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists European airport and airline associations have once again urged the European Commission to take immediate action as they warn the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) risks travel mayhem and misery for millions this summer. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260701/critical-point-europes-airports-demand-urgent-action-to-avoid-summer-border-delays Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:37:00 +0200 critical-point-europes-airports-demand-urgent-action-to-avoid-summer-border-delays European ferry ports have sounded the alarm about the impact of the EU's new EES checks this summer at the same time as global tourism chiefs say travellers from around the world are being put off by the prospect of long border delays in Europe. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260609/tourism-chiefs-and-european-ferry-ports-sound-alarm-over-summer-border-chaos Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:24:20 +0200 tourism-chiefs-and-european-ferry-ports-sound-alarm-over-summer-border-chaos Companies offering 'airport concierge' services say they have seen a spike in bookings since the start of the EU's EES system of biometric passport checks - so is it worth paying extra for these? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260522/can-an-airport-concierge-service-help-you-with-ees-in-france Fri, 22 May 2026 16:56:47 +0200 can-an-airport-concierge-service-help-you-with-ees-in-france Readers' experiences of the EU's new EES border checks vary depending on where in France they are travelling to and from - as you can see below. Help us build a picture of any problem airports or places where queues are minimal. Share your experience in the comments section. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260515/hats-off-to-bergerac-airport-your-accounts-of-ees-border-checks-around-france Fri, 15 May 2026 11:38:08 +0200 hats-off-to-bergerac-airport-your-accounts-of-ees-border-checks-around-france In the early stages of the rollout of the EU's Entry & Exit System, French border points were largely spared the chaotic scenes seen around Europe - but in recent weeks waiting times have got noticeably worse. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260505/queues-worsen-at-french-airports-as-ees-rollout-continues Tue, 05 May 2026 16:00:20 +0200 queues-worsen-at-french-airports-as-ees-rollout-continues Budget airline Ryanair has called on France to suspend new EES border checks ahead of a busy summer season, warning of delays and missed flights. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260501/ryanair-demands-france-to-suspend-half-baked-ees-checks Fri, 01 May 2026 16:23:47 +0200 ryanair-demands-france-to-suspend-half-baked-ees-checks Eighty three passengers were left stranded when their plane took off without them while they were stuck in border control queues at Marseille airport over the weekend. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260420/border-chaos-left-83-people-stranded-at-french-airport Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:28:33 +0200 border-chaos-left-83-people-stranded-at-french-airport 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.fr/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 With the deadline for the EU's new Entry/Exit System fast approaching, biometric border rules for travellers arriving in France via Eurotunnel and Eurostar have been delayed. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260404/eurotunnel-and-eurostar-still-not-ready-for-ees-rollout-despite-deadline Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:30:51 +0200 eurotunnel-and-eurostar-still-not-ready-for-ees-rollout-despite-deadline 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.fr/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.fr/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.fr/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