The British face even more waiting at EU airports in the coming months, said a former edge chief today, despite the fact that the prime minister alleges that his ‘restart’ of Brexit will end the huge queues.
Tony Smith, who was the general director of the United Kingdom border force, warned of the imminent impact of the new entry requirements imposed by Brussels.
«If you think the lines are bad now, you have not seen anything yet,» he said about the EU input/output system (EES), which will enter into force in October.
Smith issued the alert by dismissing Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to allow British tourists to use electronic doors throughout the EU as part of their ‘Restart’ agreement with the block.
After a summit of the UK-EU in London, the prime minister said that his broad agreement with Brussels would include the British «capable of using electronic doors when they travel to Europe.»
Sir Keir said this «would end those huge queues in Passport Control» while praising his «common sense» treatment with the EU.
But the prime minister also knew that, while a general prohibition is being raised, the EU individual countries are due to implement.
«I urge the EU Member States to do so and we will be pressing strongly on that … there is no inhibition in this, so I want it to be done quickly,» he added.
Smith suggested that the British who could use electronic doors in the continent would make little difference unless it was accompanied by additional work to relieve the impact of EES.
He asked for more details about the efforts of the ministers to mitigate the effects of the new EU border measures, and added: «If there is no movement in that, electronic gates do not help.»
The British face even more waiting at the EU airports in the coming months, said a former edge chief, although Sir Keir Starmer states that his ‘restart’ of Brexit will end huge queues
Speaking together with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the prime minister affirmed that his broad agreement with Brussels would include the British that they could use electronic gates
Tony Smith, the former director of the United Kingdom Border Force, suggested that the British who can use electronic doors in Europe would make little difference without more work to relieve the impact of EES
Smith asked for more details about the efforts of the ministers to mitigate the effects of the new EU border measures
EES will be an automated IT system to register travelers from countries that are not from the EU, including the United Kingdom, every time they cross a border inside or outside the EU.
When it comes into force in October, travelers will need to scan their passports in an automated self -service kiosk before crossing the border.
This will replace the current manual stamp of passports for visitors to the Schengen Without Borders of Europe that are not nationals of EU or Schengen countries.
The system will record the name of the person, the type of travel document, biometric data (such as digital footprints) and the date and place of entry and exit.
British travelers are likely to have their digital footprints and facial images taken the first time they cross a border towards the EU, once the new system is in operation.
It is feared that this causes huge queues in the EU airports, as well as delays in Dover, Folkestone and the Stan Pancras station in London, where French border controls are carried out before people embark on cross -channel trips.
Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs of the Travel Organization, Abta, said: «It is vital that we continue to see a good cooperation between the United Kingdom and the EU on the introduction of this scheme, so that it is as rationalist as possible for travelers in the United Kingdom.»
As part of the United Kingdom Agreement-Eue reached in the Lancaster house in London, it was agreed that Great Britain and Brussels ‘will continue their exchanges in the management of soft borders for the benefit of their citizens, including the potential use of the Egates when appropriate.’
A document that describes the aggregate agreement: «They point out that EU citizens can use electronic doors in the United Kingdom and that there will be no legal barriers for the use of electronic purchases for British citizens who travel to and from the EU member states after the introduction of the EU entry/exit system.»
Julia Lo Bue-Said, executive director of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was «a significant advance for British travelers.»
She added: ‘The frustrating experience of the long border control tails upon arrival has been a persistent challenge for many, so that expanded access to electronic doors throughout Europe is a great relief.
«With this simplified system instead, we anticipate that both tourists and business travelers will enjoy a much softer and more efficient airport experience, which allows them to start their trips without unnecessary delays.»
Tim Alderslade, executive director of Trade Body Airlines UK, said: «This is excellent news for British tourists and will allow even softer passenger experience for families traveling to the EU.»
The government also announced that cats and dogs in the United Kingdom can travel «more easily» by «eliminating the need for animal health certificates for each trip.»
This is through the introduction of the so -called ‘pet passports’.
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