EU border checks hit by late kit and sweaty scanners

Summer pressure builds

Airports and border operators are warning that the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System could struggle through the summer travel peak, after fresh reports of late equipment orders, scanner failures and long queues at some border points.

Rome’s airport operator has gone furthest, with chief executive Marco Troncone warning that the system could create a summer “disaster” unless biometric checks are suspended at busy locations. The warning follows reports that Rome airports may seek to pause the checks to avoid severe disruption.

The European Commission says the system is working and that implementation on the ground is the responsibility of member states.

A rollout already under strain

The Entry/Exit System, or EES, is the EU’s border database for non-EU short-stay travelers. It records passport details, fingerprints, facial images and entry and exit dates and places, replacing passport stamping for covered travelers across 29 European countries.

The Commission says the system became fully operational on 10 April 2026, after a phased start of operations that began in October 2025. But the rollout has continued to draw criticism from airports and industry groups since then.

In April, some airports were already reporting delays of up to three hours as the system was introduced. The latest reporting adds a more specific operational problem: some countries were still ordering equipment only this week, leaving border posts and airport operators short of time before the holiday peak.

Hardware and process failures

The newest concerns are not just about volume. The reporting points to scanner problems, including fingerprint readers being taken offline after becoming smeared with sweat, along with inconsistent hardware and process setup across border points.

Those failures matter most where travelers are being enrolled for the first time, because the EES requires biometric capture rather than a simple passport stamp. That extra step can slow border processing, especially when large numbers of holiday travelers arrive at once.

Airports and industry groups have warned that queues at badly affected locations could stretch into several hours. That raises the risk of missed flights and knock-on disruption across airports, ports and other border crossings handling non-EU passengers.

Who feels the impact

The system affects non-EU travelers, including Britons, who now face biometric enrollment at border control instead of the previous stamping process.

That puts pressure on airports, ports, Eurostar and other entry points to have the kit, staffing and procedures ready for first-time registrations. The stakes are highest in summer, when passenger numbers rise and even small processing delays can cascade into longer waits.

Rome has become the most visible example of the strain, but the wider concern is whether similar problems are appearing at other border posts across Europe.

Commission defense and next steps

The Commission has argued that the system is functioning in most member states and that the problems reported so far are limited and being addressed on the ground.

That stance leaves member states and local border authorities responsible for getting the rollout right before July and August traffic peaks. If queue times worsen, temporary suspensions or exemptions at specific border points could become more likely.

For now, the immediate questions are whether Rome’s warning turns into a formal summer pause, whether other airports or ports follow with their own requests, and whether the Commission issues any new operational guidance as travel volumes climb.