Brits off to Europe this summer will encounter the hated EU EES or Entry Exit System, which uses biometrics and requires a photograph, significantly slowing down passport checks. All while the EU’s external borders are wide open to illegal migrants…
The EU has a deadline of 6th September to fully implement EES, which has suffered major software outages this year. The British travel and tourism industry is panicked about the effects of the full rollout. Several EU member states have been given a derogation from implementing the system. Now we learn Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, responsible for negotiations over EES with non-EU countries, “has given private assurances that blanket border checks will be paused”, according to a briefing that seems to have emerged from the office of Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. The UK Government appears to be relying on this chit chat rather than pursuing an exemption, you know, written down somewhere…
Why? As The Times puts it: “The UK is treading a fine line on the EES system, fearful that criticism of the scheme could disrupt trade talks with the EU”. Another negative outcome from Labour’s pro-rejoin push…
Burnham said in his main conference speech: “For the historic victory he achieved for us, I am here to say: thank you, Keir.”