France Suspends EU Entry Exit System at Dover Amid Heatwave

French border authorities have suspended a new European Union entry system at the Port of Dover after holidaymakers faced waits of several hours amid a severe heatwave at the start of a busy bank holiday weekend.

The suspension of the automated Entry/Exit System (EES) was announced on Saturday morning as queues for ferries to France stretched for miles. The system, which began operating in April, requires non-EU nationals to register passport details upon first entry to the Schengen Area. French border police invoked a clause in the regulations allowing for a temporary reversion to manual passport stamping to alleviate the congestion.

Processing delays had built since Friday, with officials reporting wait times of up to four and a half hours at their peak on Saturday morning. The port had anticipated over 8,000 vehicles departing on Saturday alone, the busiest day of a weekend that marked the start of the school half-term break for many families.

The extreme heat compounded the difficulties for travellers. The UK is experiencing an exceptional May heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 30°C (86°F) or higher in southern England over the weekend, prompting the UK Health...