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 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 If you're visiting France from a non-EU country your time here is limited, unless you have a visa - but what happens to people who overstay and how strictly are the rules enforced? https://www.thelocal.fr/20210331/reader-question-what-happens-if-i-over-stay-my-90-day-limit-in-france Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:47:58 +0200 reader-question-what-happens-if-i-over-stay-my-90-day-limit-in-france 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.fr/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.fr/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.fr/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.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 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.fr/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 The Port of Dover is waiting to get the green light from French authorities before it launches EES biometric checks for car passengers. The new border checks were initially set to go live on November 1st. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251103/port-of-dover-delays-rollout-of-ees-checks-for-car-passengers Mon, 03 Nov 2025 13:03:32 +0100 port-of-dover-delays-rollout-of-ees-checks-for-car-passengers 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.fr/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.fr/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.fr/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 If you're visiting France and you're not a citizen of an EU country, your visits may be limited by the '90 day rule' - here's how it works, what changes under EES border checks and how to calculate your trips so that you don't overstay your allowance. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220419/calculator-how-to-work-out-your-90-day-allowance-in-france Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:15:22 +0200 calculator-how-to-work-out-your-90-day-allowance-in-france The EU's new EES passport checks come into force in October - if you are a second-home owner in France, here's what it means for you. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221102/what-second-home-owners-in-france-need-to-know-about-2023-passport-control-changes Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:51:26 +0100 what-second-home-owners-in-france-need-to-know-about-2023-passport-control-changes 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.fr/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