The UK government is providing £10.5 million in funding to help prevent “excessive” queues at key borders when the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) is finally introduced in the autumn.
EES will require visitors from third countries, such as the UK, to have digital photos and fingerprints taken when entering the EU. The system is due to be launched on 10 November after a succession of delays caused by technical problems.
In preparation for the EU’s new digital border system, the UK government said it would be providing funding to international rail operator Eurostar, as well as Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover, to try to prevent long queues when the EES comes into operation.
Lilian Greenwood, the UK’s future of roads minister, said: “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.
“Since coming into government, we have been reviewing plans and closely supporting ports to make sure they have the right processes in place so that EES registration can be smooth and queue times kept to a minimum.”
Each of the three ports, including Eurostar’s UK operations at London’s St Pancras rail station, will receive £3.5 million in funding to prepare for EES.
Eurostar has already started installing 49 new kiosks to cope with EES requirements. The extra money from the UK government will be used to install more facilities, as well as to “undertake rigorous testing” to reduce the risk of disruption, and for the recruitment and training of staff.
Simon Lejeune, Eurostar’s chief safety and stations officer, said the operator had already made “substantial investments in our station infrastructure”.
“With support from the government, we have enhanced our facilities and upgraded our technology to meet the new requirements,” added Lejeune. “Eurostar will be fully prepared and compliant by November, ensuring a smooth transition for all our passengers.”
Getlink, which runs Eurotunnel shuttle services between the UK and France, said it had been adapting its terminal for EES for the past two years.
Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, said: “This funding will be used to test and add new technology on the UK terminal, that will be deployed during peak periods, providing more kiosks, if needed, in addition to the 106 already installed in the UK, plus the recruitment and training of staff whose focus will be to assist EES passengers.”