The Committee is considering the EU’s (soon to be introduced) ‘Entry/Exit System’ (EES).
The European Commission describes EES as:
"[An] automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries [such as the UK], both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border. The system will register the person's name, type of the travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.
It will also record refusals of entry. EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports, which is time consuming, does not provide reliable data on border crossings and does not allow a systematic detection of over-stayers (travellers who have exceeded the maximum duration of their authorised stay)."
Stakeholders in the UK, including Getlink, the Port of Dover and Eurostar have expressed concerns that EES will add significantly to the amount of time it currently takes to enter the EU, especially given that EES will require passengers to initially register for the system at the border. The situation for Getlink, the Port of Dover and Eurostar is further complicated by the existence of juxtaposed border controls: whereby EU checks take place before ferry/train boarding.
The main aim of the session is to better understand the potential (practical) issues for UK ports arising from the introduction of the EES.