The European Commission demanded that problems with the EES system be eliminated by the end of 2026

Brief retelling from RIA II

The European Commission has demanded that several EU countries eliminate problems with the operation of the EES biometric entry and exit system by the end of 2026.

Eight EU countries and Switzerland have asked the European Commission to extend the relaxation of the temporary suspension of the collection of biometric data.

The European Commission has offered additional assistance to countries experiencing difficulties with the EES system and urged them to strengthen operational readiness.

BRUSSELS, September 1 - RIA Novosti. The European Commission has demanded that several EU countries, where there are still problems with the operation of the new EES biometric entry and exit system at individual border crossings, completely eliminate them by the end of 2026, EC spokesman Markus Lammert said at a briefing in Brussels.

A number of countries now take advantage of the flexibility provided in the regulations to temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data in exceptional cases to avoid excessive queues. This opportunity should end on September 6, but eight EU countries and Switzerland have asked the European Commission to extend the relaxation. The question of whether the EC will extend them or refrain from procedures for violating legislation against individual countries was asked to Lammert at the briefing.

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"We are in contact with those very few Member States where operational adjustments are needed at individual border crossing points. There is a strong common desire to ensure that the system operates everywhere in accordance with the rules established by the entry and exit system regulation, and it is in this spirit that we are working together with Member States," Lammert said.

According to him, the European Commission offered additional assistance to countries experiencing difficulties, but demanded that they speed up their preparations.

“We have offered additional assistance to the relevant member states and asked them to further strengthen operational readiness, including the necessary technical, organizational and communication measures, to ensure that the remaining challenges are fully addressed by the end of the year,” the EC spokesman added.

At the same time, Lammert did not directly answer whether the European Commission intends to formally extend the current relaxations or will temporarily refrain from starting procedures for violating EU legislation against countries that cannot fully comply with EES requirements.

The new entry and exit system EES began to be phased in in October 2025, and from April 10, 2026 officially became fully operational at the external borders of the Schengen area. It replaced stamps in passports with electronic entry and exit registration for third-country nationals visiting for short stays, and included the collection of biometric data, including fingerprints and facial image.