“Eurosummer” is a popular social media trend used to describe extended, carefree summer vacations in Europe.
However, many travelers from outside the European Union who chose to spend their summer on a “Eurosummer” have instead faced huge lines and hours of waiting at European airports. From Frankfurt and Amsterdam to Athens and Paris, delays, severe disruption and even missed flights are being reported daily.
The apparent cause is the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which came into full operation in April and is now being implemented across the 29 countries in the Schengen Area, Europe’s passport-free travel zone.
The system replaces manual passport stamping with digital registration and biometric checks, including fingerprinting, facial recognition and the storage of personal data for every traveler from outside the EU.
Its aim is to tighten European border controls, better track movements and strengthen security. However, its implementation is proving more difficult than expected.
Unprecedented waiting times
Data from major European airports illustrates the scale of the problem. According to Financial Times data, waiting times in Frankfurt reached 120 minutes in July, twice as long as last year. In Munich, they increased from 31 to 60 minutes, while in Amsterdam they rose from 80 to 120 minutes. During peak periods, lines can stretch to as long as five hours.
The main problem, according to travelers and airlines, is not only the length of the delays but also their unpredictability. Outside peak periods, the process can be completed relatively quickly. But during periods of heavy traffic, the system struggles to handle the volume of passengers.
Where the delays occur
Travelers from non-EU countries are required to register biometric data the first time they enter the EU — a process that theoretically takes around 70 seconds but in practice is often prolonged by technical problems, staff shortages and malfunctions involving automated machines. As Germany’s Deutsche Welle explains, the process itself is more time-consuming than the “traditional” passport check, and any technical difficulties further increase the amount of time each passenger spends waiting.
“Poorly designed” system or transitional phase?
Beyond travelers’ complaints, airlines have also strongly criticized the new system. Airlines have pointed to operational difficulties, while industry figures such as Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary have described the system as “poorly designed.”
In response to the pressure, several airports, including airports in Greece, have temporarily suspended parts of the checks, such as fingerprint collection, in an effort to ease the lines. However, this option is temporary and is theoretically due to expire in the fall, with nine member states — including Greece — already calling for an extension.
The European Commission acknowledges the problems but attributes the major delays primarily to pre-existing weaknesses, such as staff shortages and infrastructure constraints. It nevertheless maintains that the system is “working well overall” and that its security benefits are significant.
The broader plan for border control
Behind this summer’s disruption, however, lies a broader plan. According to EUObserver, the EES is part of a comprehensive digitalization of European border controls being implemented by eu-LISA, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems.
Alongside the EES, the EU is also developing ETIAS, a pre-travel authorization system for citizens of non-EU countries who do not need a visa to enter the bloc, such as those from the United States or Canada. It is modeled on the US ESTA system. Once operational, it will apply to more than 1.4 billion travelers worldwide.
The development of these systems has cost almost €2 billion, with major private technology and defense companies involved. As reported by European Correspondent, this has prompted criticism from organizations that point to shortcomings in democratic oversight and the growing role of private entities in managing Europe’s borders.
