EU Delays Rollout of Entry/Exit System

The European Union has delayed the rollout of its Entry/Exit System (EES), originally scheduled for November 10, due to readiness concerns from Germany, France, and the Netherlands regarding their border technologies. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson announced that the launch date is no longer set, and a phased introduction is being considered instead. The EES aims to replace manual passport stamping with biometric data collection, requiring non-EU travelers to register fingerprints and undergo facial scanning upon entry into the Schengen Area. A spokesperson from Germany's interior ministry highlighted that these countries, which account for 40% of affected passenger traffic, are unprepared due to insufficient stability in the central system managed by EU-Lisa. The French interior ministry emphasized the necessity of proper preparation for the EES's implementation. The Dutch government has not yet provided a comment on the situation.