The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which began in 2025 but became fully operational in April this year, has caused significant disruptions for summer travelers. The system, which collects fingerprints and facial images of non-EU nationals, has led to massive queues at airports, with many passengers missing their flights due to long wait times.
CNN Journalist's Viral Experience
CNN journalist Clarissa Ward shared her experience on social media, stating that she missed her flight after waiting for two hours for biometric data collection. Ward posted a video showing a huge queue of non-EU passport holders at Lisbon airport. "I stood in the longest line I have ever seen in my life (no joke). All because of the EU's recently updated Entry/Exit System, which requires biometric scanning for every non-EU passport holder. I saw lots of elderly people and families with small children. People who missed connections. Others who missed flights. Me included. Airport staff only let TAP (Portugal's main airline) passengers cut the line if they were seconds away from missing their flight. Everyone else? Good luck," Ward wrote.
Public Reaction
Ward faced criticism on social media, with users pointing out that similar waits are common for Europeans traveling to the United States. One user commented, "Sorry pal, this is just how the rest of the world travels. And yeah, the EES is a mess but the rest of the world is already used to queuing up." Another wrote, "Do you know what happens to us Europeans when we arrive at JFK? We wait. It's part of the process. Stop whining."
Understanding the Entry/Exit System
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system designed for registering non-EU nationals traveling for short stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period). It applies each time they cross the external borders of participating European countries. Non-EU nationals are travelers who do not hold nationality of any European Union country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
List of Participating Countries
The system is in place in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Impact on Travelers
Since the delayed rollout began in October, similar scenes have been reported in many European cities. Airlines are urging airports to suspend the new measures during peak summer travel. EU officials have described the system as a "digital leap," but critics like Ward have called it a "total cluster f*$k."
The system aims to enhance border security and streamline entry processes, but the current implementation has led to significant delays and frustration among travelers. As summer travel peaks, the situation is expected to worsen unless measures are taken to address the bottlenecks.
