Interferry says the EU Entry/Exit System is already causing serious delays at European ports, with ferry passengers facing long waits after the May bank holidays. The association has urged European Union authorities and member states to adopt a pragmatic approach before the high summer season puts more pressure on port checks.
Johan Roos, Interferry’s director of regulatory affairs, said “The chaotic situation witnessed in several European ports this May unfortunately proved the industry’s worst fears” and warned that “Families should not be exposed to exhausting, multi-hour queues at the start of their well-deserved holidays.”
European ports under pressure
The EU Entry/Exit System rules governing the entry of people from third countries into the EU have been fully in effect since April 10, but significant delays have followed because the systems for verifying compliance with EES requirements have not been adequately implemented. Maritime operators must handle foot passengers, private cars, buses and freight trucks at the same time, which makes any weak point in border processing show up quickly at the quay.
Roos said authorities are simply not equipped to handle sharp increases in passenger volumes. Interferry asked the European Commission and national border agencies to fast-track reliable system provisions and step up realistic public information before the summer rush begins.
Stena Line and Brittany Ferries
Stena Line said passengers still face unacceptable delays upon disembarkation at Hoek van Holland. The operator also said there is massive confusion between EES and ETIAS, and that people of all ages are affected by the regulation, worsened by the fact that the Travel to Europe app is still virtually unavailable in most countries.
Brittany Ferries said French authorities are already collecting biometric data only for foot passengers because mobile tablets for motorized vehicles are completely non-functional. Even without biometric capture, border crossing times have surged because staff must manually create files for arriving Third-Country Nationals.
Interferry and the summer rush
Interferry said member states must improve mitigation efforts and use the legal flexibilities within the EES framework. Roos also said EU authorities should seriously consider suspending the rules until all member states are properly equipped, so the critical travel-intensive summer season does not collapse into severe border disruptions.
That leaves the immediate pressure on ports and border agencies now: families and other passengers moving through Europe’s ferry network are already dealing with the queues, while carriers are still asking which member states and ports are ready to run the EES without major delays.
