EU agency files claim against IBM, Atos and Leonardo

The EU’s IT agency has filed a court claim against IBM, Atos and Leonardo over delays in developing the bloc’s Entry/Exit System, according to the agency’s annual accounts. The claim was submitted in Estonia on December 22, 2025, and concerns the contractors’ work during the system’s development, not its current operation, eu-LISA said.

The three companies formed a consortium responsible for implementing and maintaining the biometric border system. eu-LISA said it had taken contractual and legal measures to protect its financial interests after delays in delivery. The specific breaches alleged and the remedies sought were not detailed in the reports.

The European Commission said it was not involved in the case and that it relates to development delays rather than the system’s operation. eu-LISA described the system as fully operational. The Harju County Court confirmed the filing and, according to reporting on the case, had not held or scheduled a hearing.

The system records a photograph and fingerprints from eligible travelers entering participating European countries. Its rollout began in October 2025, after an original launch plan for 2022, and it applies to noncitizens of the...