Malta and eight other countries want more flexibility on new EU border checks
The new entry/exit system was introduced earlier this year, but has led to long queues in some countries, including Malta
Malta is among a group of nine countries calling on the European Commission to extend a backup mechanism of the EU’s new entry/exit system that allows for greater flexibility, arguing the new border controls are not ready to be left without it.
In a joint letter sent Tuesday to Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, the countries called for a provision allowing border authorities to suspend collection of biometric data in exceptional circumstances to be extended past its September 6 expiry date.
The new automated border system, which is administered by the police, requires all non-EU nationals to register at the border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints scanned and photographs taken.
The letter asks the commission to provide written guarantees that the mechanism for suspending such requirements will be extended.
It was signed by Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield and his counterparts from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The request follows reports of border delays across the continent. In March, one aviation source described the system as a “mess”, after queues of over 40 minutes were seen at Malta International Airport. At least one travel agent lodged an official complaint with the government.
The countries told the commission that while they remained “fully committed” to the new border system, the first months of its use had revealed “important lessons that should be taken into account”, according to a copy of the letter seen by Times of Malta.
“Significant difficulties arise under exceptional circumstances, and these risks should not be underestimated,” the letter read. “The scheduled end of the partial suspension mechanism on September 6 is a source of serious and legitimate concern”.
The signatories said it was “essential” that the mechanism allowing for the temporary suspension of biometric data in “narrowly defined exceptional circumstances” be extended.
The entry/exit system has also faced pressure from the private sector. At the start of July, three associations representing airports and over 370 airlines called on the commission to allow member states to suspend the entry/exit system “whenever passenger volumes exceed the operational capacity of border control facilities”.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), ACI Europe and Airlines 4 Europe asked for permission to be granted “at least throughout July and August”, and for the introduction by September of a “permanent operational flexibility mechanism” allowing for such suspensions.
The EU rejected the proposal, telling the industry representatives that while the new system was “not perfect” — and admitting to being aware of “20 difficult spots” of long queues — it was “not needed” and “not possible” to introduce the suspension, according to The Guardian.
Back in February, the same three associations called on the commission to allow countries to partially or fully suspend the rollout of the entry/exit system until October.
Meanwhile, the introduction of a new online system allowing travellers from eligible countries such as the UK and US to pre-apply for visa-free travel to the EU is facing delays, according to The Financial Times.
The outlet reported that the European travel information and authorisation system, known as Etias, is likely to be delayed until next year due to technical glitches and the slow deployment of the entry/exit system.