World news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent
The European Union's entry-exit system is reverting back to strict biometric checks for travellers, which may lead to renewed queues at EU borders as of September 6. The aviation and travel industry had requested an extension of flexibility measures until the end of 2026, but this request was denied. Some member states, such as France and Greece, are reportedly not enforcing the biometric checks due to technical issues with the system or unofficial exemptions for UK passengers. As a result, airlines and trade bodies, including Iata and Abta, are calling for further action from the European Commission to address the potential disruptions.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Travellers to the EU may face renewed border queues as a deadline for flexible border check rules expires on September 6. Although some countries will reportedly not enforce biometric checks, airlines had urged the European Commission to extend the discretionary powers to pause controls until the end of 2026, citing concerns about peak holiday season chaos at airports. However, it appears that passengers crossing into France via the Channel Tunnel won't face changes due to technical issues with the EU's entry-exit system (EES) software commissioned by French authorities. The fingerprinting kiosks installed at major UK ports and Eurostar stations are still not operational. Despite a repeat of the long queues seen earlier in the summer, which caused some passengers to miss flights, the situation has been managed thus far through relaxation of the rules requiring biometric information from non-EU citizens. Eurotunnel, Port of Dover, and Eurostar had all spent money on these kiosks, but they remain idle due to technical issues with the EES software. The aviation and travel industry is still concerned that further disruptions are possible if these issues aren't resolved soon.
Written for “EU Border Check Flexibility” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 5503 (medium confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
Travellers to the EU could face renewed border queues as flexibility measures for the bloc’s entry-exit system officially come to an end – although numerous sources have indicated that some member states will not enforce biometric checks.
uncertain
states → face → checks
Airlines last week called on the European Commission to extend discretionary powers to pause EES controls when necessary until the end of 2026, with the deadline for “flexibility” passing on 6 September.
asserted
deadline → call → September
Peak holiday season has not resulted in a repeat of the long queues seen at some European airports in early summer, which at worst led to numerous passengers missing flights.
asserted
passengers → result → flights
But the aviation and travel industry believes further chaos was averted only through relaxation of the rules demanding biometric information, including fingerprinting of non-EU-citizens.
asserted
chaos → believe → citizens
While Brussels has not extended the discretionary period, it appears that cross-Channel travellers to France will not face changes next week because of technical problems with the EES software commissioned by French authorities.
asserted
travellers → extend → authorities
The fingerprinting kiosks expensively procured by Eurotunnel, Port of Dover and Eurostar at London St Pancras are still not operational.
asserted
kiosks → procure → Pancras
Dover said it was not expecting any changes next week, with car drivers yet to be subject to EES checks.
asserted
drivers → say → checks
A Eurotunnel spokesperson said it was “awaiting confirmation from the French authorities on the timing of this next phase” but was “ready to implement full biometric checks as soon as formal clearance is granted”.
asserted
clearance → say → checks
A Eurostar spokesperson said: “The phased rollout of EES continues.
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rollout → say → EES
EES enrolments will continue to be completed manually by border officers.
asserted
enrolments → continue → officers
A senior airline source said that while they would be monitoring closely, they did not expect to see full enforcement at the busiest European airports.
asserted
they → say → airports
Border officials in main foreign tourist destinations, most notably Greece, appeared to have unofficially exempted UK passengers from EES checks to avoid queues.
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officials → appear → queues
The source said they expected the practice to continue.
asserted
practice → say → ?
Luke Petherbridge, the director of public affairs at the UK travel industry trade body Abta, said it was continuing to push the European Commission to allow discretionary suspension of border checks beyond September, “recognising that there is still some way to go until EES is fully and consistently operational across all participating countries”.
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EES → say → countries
The airlines trade body Iata has called for an official extension, saying last week that EES-related delays had resulted in people missing flights and connections.
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people → call → flights
Thomas Reynaert, the head of external affairs at Iata, said: “These are real impacts being felt by passengers.
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These → say → passengers
It gives Europe a bad reputation.
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It → give → reputation
When systems fail, passengers lose the trust in the system and when people are late, airlines pay a high cost.”
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airlines → fail → cost
The European Commission declined to provide further comment.
asserted
Commission → decline → comment
A spokesperson said early last week: “We are in close and constructive contact with those few member states where some adjustments are needed at certain border crossing points.
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adjustments → say → points
“And during an additional period of operational adjustment that is needed at these few operational border crossing points, the commission stands ready to provide additional support to these member states.”
asserted
commission → need → states
