The UK government has announced a £10.5 million funding package to support major transport hubs in preparing for the new EU border checks set to be implemented this autumn. The funding will be directed towards the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, and Eurostar at St Pancras to help reduce potential delays and queues for travelers.
Starting this autumn, travelers from the UK and other non-EU countries will be required to undergo a new digital border system known as the Entry/Exit System (EES), introduced by the European Union. This system will involve capturing travelers’ photographs and fingerprints as part of the border crossing process.
The government funding will be used to equip these key ports and transport hubs with the necessary technology to facilitate these biometric checks. Under the new system, individuals entering an EU country from non-EU nations—including the UK—will need to register their fingerprints and photograph along with their passport details. This information will be recorded every time travelers enter or exit participating European countries, and the registration will be valid for three years, requiring validation at each border crossing. This system will replace traditional passport stamping.
The biometric data collection technology to be used at these ports has not yet been finalized, though it was previously suggested that devices similar to tablets could be employed to capture fingerprints. The EES was originally scheduled to be implemented in 2022 but has faced several delays. It was rescheduled to May 2023, then the end of 2023, and is now expected to be enforced in November 2024.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, emphasized the importance of minimizing queue times at the ports. “Nobody wants to see excessive queues at our ports, which is why we’re providing this funding to ensure our borders are as prepared as possible for the upcoming change—despite EES being an EU initiative,” she said.
Emma Ward, Chief Operations Officer for the Port of Dover, assured that the port is working diligently to prepare facilities for French border officials who will operate the new system. Similarly, Getlink, the company managing Eurotunnel, has been preparing for the EES for two years, focusing on enhancing customer satisfaction and border experience.
Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, noted that the funding would be used to train staff, upgrade technology, and possibly add more kiosks as needed. Each port is set to receive £3.5 million as part of this funding initiative, marking the first major effort to address potential delays related to the EES implementation.
