EU tightens borders with new biometric control system

The European Union is set to roll out a comprehensive and unified border control mechanism—the Entry/Exit System (EES)—across its member states beginning October 12, marking a significant shift in the bloc’s approach to border security and migration management.

Europe is tightening border controls: a large-scale project to collect fingerprints and facial images is being launched in airports, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Designed to modernize and digitize the Schengen Area’s external border management, the EES will systematically register biometric and travel data of third-country nationals entering or exiting EU territory. The primary objective is to identify individuals using fraudulent travel documents and detect those who have overstayed their legally permitted duration of stay under various visa or residency arrangements.

The system has been more than a decade in the making. Its implementation has faced numerous delays due to technical complications, but the European Commission has now confirmed that October 12 will serve as the definitive launch date.

Under the EES, biometric data—including fingerprints and facial images—alongside border crossing records will be stored in a centralized, pan-European database. Upon first entry into the Schengen Area, third-country nationals will be enrolled in the system, enabling them to use automated border control gates for future entries and exits without the need to interact with a passport control officer. The practice of stamping passports will be phased out entirely.

A six-month transition period will accompany the system’s initial implementation, during which traditional manual border checks will continue alongside the new automated process. The EES will first be introduced at selected border crossings, with the capacity to process an estimated 200 to 300 million border movements annually.

Access to the system’s data will be granted to relevant national authorities, including immigration agencies, law enforcement bodies, Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service, and the Finnish Defence Forces.

The EU justifies the move as a critical step toward bolstering internal security and curbing irregular migration. By digitizing entry and exit data, the EES is expected to enhance oversight, streamline procedures, and reduce reliance on outdated paper-based systems, ushering in a new era of border management across Europe.

By Vafa Guliyeva