Nine EU countries delay biometric border checks after technical failures

At least nine European countries have informally delayed the full enforcement of the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES), a biometric border control scheme, after a grace period expired on September 6. The delay, granted by Brussels to maintain border fluidity, comes amid widespread criticism of the system's technical failures and operational chaos. France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Portugal, and Switzerland have all reportedly been permitted to postpone the mandatory fingerprinting and facial scans for non-EU citizens. The EES, which launched in October 2025, was intended to be fully operational by April 2026, but a 150-day grace period was granted to avoid summer travel disruption. That period ended on September 6, and the European Commission had previously ruled out any extension. Despite this, the nine countries informed the Commission they would not enforce the system until the technology worked correctly. The Commission has not formally confirmed the extension but stated it is in "close and constructive contact" with member states and conceded "some adjustments" may be needed. The European Commission declined to comment on the trackback.