Latest news with #Entry-ExitSystem
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Daily Record
New EU travel rules by October as UK tourists face long delays
The European Union has decided to implement new travel regulations that are set to cause significant delays for UK holidaymakers visiting popular destinations such as France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. Under the new system, UK nationals will be required to submit biometric data, including photographs and fingerprints, in addition to scanning their passports. Airlines have been instructed to potentially keep passengers on board aircraft to prevent airport congestion as travellers line up to provide the additional details. Motorists planning to use the Channel Tunnel have been alerted to anticipate extended waiting times, and substantial processing facilities are being established at Dover and London St Pancras to manage the flow of people. The forthcoming Entry-Exit System (EES) aims to bolster security across Europe by meticulously monitoring who enters and exits the EU. Although its introduction has faced several postponements, the EU has recently voted to commence its deployment from October, with a six-month window for all member states to adopt the system, reports Bristol Live . Assita Kanko, the Belgian MEP overseeing the EES initiative, said: "The safety of Europeans can no longer be postponed. Reliance on paper stamps at borders, while criminals operate digitally, is unacceptable. The EES is not just a security measure but also aids legal travellers more efficiently, with fewer queues and increased certainty." UK passport holders will be required to scan their passports and provide fingerprints and a photograph the first time they travel to Europe. This process will need to be repeated every three years or when your passport expires. For those travelling via the tunnel or ferry, these checks will be conducted in the UK. If you're flying, the checks will take place upon landing. Motorists heading to the continent will need to step out of their vehicles to provide the necessary information. Once fully implemented, another system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), will be enforced from 2026. To enter Europe, you'll need to purchase a visa waiver, costing approximately £6 every three years.
Wales Online
25-04-2025
- Wales Online
Expect delays as new EU travel rules come into force within months
Expect delays as new EU travel rules come into force within months The EU has voted to start rolling out the new scheme for everyone heading from the UK to countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal Queues at the airport The European Union has voted to roll out new travel rules that will see long delays for UK holidaymakers heading to countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal. The rules will mean UK citizens heading to the Continent need to provide biometric data - pictures and fingerprints - as well as scanning their passport. Airlines have been told they may need to hold passengers on planes in a bid to avoid overcrowding at airports as people queue to hand over the new information. Drivers heading for the Channel Tunnel have been warned to expect much longer delays and huge new processing areas are being created at Dover and at London St Pancras to process travellers. The new Entry-Exit System (EES) is designed to make Europe more secure by tracking exactly who is entering and leaving the bloc. The implementation of the scheme has been delayed a number of times, but the EU this week voted to start rolling it out from October. It will be introduced for all EU countries within six months after the roll-out begins. Article continues below Assita Kanko, the Belgian MEP responsible for the EES system, said: "The safety of Europeans can no longer be postponed. Reliance on paper stamps at borders, while criminals operate digitally, is unacceptable. "The EES is not just a security measure but also aids legal travellers more efficiently, with fewer queues and increased certainty." Article continues below Everyone with a UK passport will have to scan the passport and have fingerprints and a photograph taken the first time they head to Europe. You will then need to renew that every three years or when your passport expires. If you're travelling through the tunnel or by ferry the checks will be done in the UK. If you're flying they will be done after you land. Those driving to the Continent will have to exit their cars to provide the information. Once the system is fully in place another system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), will come into force in 2026. You will need to buy a visa waiver to get into Europe - paying around £6 every three years for the document.
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wine industry calls for Kent Eurostar resumption
The wine industry in Kent has joined calls for the reintroduction of Eurostar services stopping in the county. Rail services linking the UK to Europe have not stopped at purpose-built stations at Ashford or Ebbsfleet since March Barbour, owner of Woodchurch Vineyard, said: "Everyone in the tourism and hospitality industry knows how important the Eurostar service in Kent was and would be again if it reopened."Eurostar said it was committed to "an open, transparent, and ongoing dialogue about the future of operations at Kent stations". The rail company has said it would not reinstate stopping services at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet stations until at least leaders in Kent have backed calls for Eurostar to return to the county. Woodchurch Vineyard is a small business with just under 10 acres of land. They welcome people on tours throughout the year from around the 50% of their income comes from tours and wine tasting. Mr Barbour said: "It's really important for us to get as many people into the county as possible so they can enjoy our hospitality and hopefully take some wine away with them."The terminal opening in Ashford again would give the impression from a marketing point of view of Kent becoming a real hub for international travel." Chapel Down, near Tenterden, is one of the largest producers of English Donaghay-Spire, head winemaker, said: "We welcome the reopening of the Eurostar terminal at Ashford because it would allow more people from the continent to visit us. "As we get bigger and our wines get better we want to tell that story more widely and more globally."There is absolutely no reason to rush through Kent. It is a destination in itself." A Eurostar spokesperson said: "We will need to closely assess the impact of the EU's new Entry-Exit System (EES) which will require a focused allocation of resources at our busiest stations, particularly for French border controls, to ensure a smooth and efficient experience for our passengers.""We have longstanding and positive relationships with local communities, councils, and businesses in Kent, and we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication as we move forward."
