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EU Commission: New Entry System on Schedule

by AI | 30.Dec 2025 | Europe in brief AI

More than 13.3 million entries and exits, thousands of refusals and uncovered fraud cases: The EU Commission sees the new entry system on track. It is not yet being used everywhere.

The Polish-Belarusian border. Photo: Maciek Luczniewski/AP/dpa

Brussels (dpa) – Around two and a half months after the introduction of a new entry system for non-EU citizens, the EU Commission has drawn a positive conclusion. So far, around 100 cases of identity fraud have been uncovered with the help of the Entry-Exit System (EES), according to the Brussels authority. 

Accordingly, more than 13.3 million entries and exits have been recorded in the system, 60 percent of them using biometric data. By mid-December, nearly 7,000 refusals of entry had been recorded.

New system since mid-October

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the system brings modern technology to the EU’s external borders, prevents entry with forged documents or false identities, and supports border authorities in their work. “This way we know who is coming from third countries, when these people enter Europe and when they leave the EU again,” Brunner said. In addition to the usual information from the passport, entrants must also provide and have stored biometric data – that is, fingerprints and facial images – according to the EU.

Since October 12, the new procedure has been gradually introduced at EU border crossings. Non-EU citizens can register electronically at special counters. There are exceptions, for example, for people who have a residence card and are in a direct relationship with an EU citizen. Nothing changes for German nationals or nationals of other EU countries.

From April 10, 2026, the system is to be operational at all crossing points of the European external borders. Then the stamp in the passport is also to become a thing of the past. The EU Commission said it is clearly on schedule. In Germany, the EES is already being used at airports in Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Munich. (December 27)