Stricter border controls now in effect at European airports

A new EU-wide IT system designed to tighten border security at airports across Europe, including Denmark, is now fully operational, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) was gradually introduced at Copenhagen Airport starting in October last year and became fully active at midnight on Tuesday, said Claus Birkelyng, a police inspector with Copenhagen Police.

“We have been using the new system incrementally since last October, and as of midnight, we are running at 100 percent,” Birkelyng told DR. “Overall, it has gone very smoothly, and there have been no major challenges with the system.”

The system is intended to strengthen border checks for travelers from non-Schengen countries entering or leaving the Schengen Area. It collects biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, to improve the identification of individuals attempting to enter with false travel documents or overstay their permitted time in the Schengen Zone.

Authorities also say the system will aid in preventing, detecting, and investigating terrorist activities.

However, the introduction of EES may lead to longer wait times for travelers from outside the Schengen Area. “The registration process might take a little longer for non-Schengen citizens, as their biometric data needs to be recorded,” Birkelyng said. “But generally, we are very satisfied with the start we’ve had.”

First-time travelers from non-Schengen countries crossing an external Schengen border must register in the EES via a self-service machine. This creates an “individual travel file” containing their name, date of birth, nationality, travel details, biometric data, and any records of entry refusals.

In the long term, EES registration is expected to replace physical passport stamps for third-country nationals.