Brussels: The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has already prevented around 1,000 individuals identified as security threats from entering the EU, according to Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
Speaking after a meeting with the European Commission in Cork, the minister said the new border management system has proven effective since its full implementation in April, strengthening security across the European Union’s external borders.
O’Callaghan said more than 110 million travellers have passed through the system to date. He attributed the figures to information provided by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, highlighting the early success of the new border security framework.
Ireland Remains Outside Schengen
Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, having opted to remain outside the border-free zone in order to preserve the Common Travel Area (CTA) with the United Kingdom.
The Schengen Area currently includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Concerns Over Border Delays
Despite its security benefits, the rollout of the Entry/Exit System has drawn criticism from parts of the travel industry, with concerns that the collection of biometric data could lead to longer waiting times at major airports and border crossings, particularly during the busy summer travel season.
EU authorities, however, maintain that the system represents a significant step forward in strengthening border security while improving the management of travel into the Schengen Area.
Irish Samachar English