Ylva Johansson said the ambitious Schengen area border plan, requiring "third-country nationals" - including British visitors to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics on entry, would launch at every frontier post from the Arctic to the Aegean.
But in yet another blow for the troubled digital border project, it now appears a pilot programme is expected to begin some time in 2025, and a subtle change of wording from the European Commission suggests the demand for fingerprints may be quietly dropped.
France, Germany and the Netherlands had expressed alarm at plans to go ahead with a system that had not been tested on "live" border crossings. The travel industry, which has invested hundreds of millions of pounds preparing for the launch, is relieved that possible chaos has been averted - but furious that the decision has come so late.
A summary of proceedings of the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday revealed: "To ensure a smooth transition, the commission outlined plans to roll out the EES in a phased manner. The details of this approach will be established in the coming weeks."
It is now expected that a pilot scheme, perhaps involving a few medium-sized airports, ports and land frontiers, will begin at some point in 2025 - possibly as late as the autumn. But new legislation is required because it was never envisaged that there would be anything except a “big bang" approach with the system implemented everywhere from day one.
Denne historien er fra October 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra October 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Tuchel left with big calls to make after Carsley refresh
No pressure, Thomas. Lee Carsley hands over to Thomas Tuchel promising to give England’s next manager a comprehensive debrief on the three autumn camps but perhaps also elevating expectations. Not so much with the results – promotion in the Nations League was anticipated for a team ranked fourth in the world and who reached the final of Euro 2024 – as with his assessment of England’s prospects for the time covered by Tuchel’s 18-month deal.
Wiegman calls up uncapped trio for injury-hit Lionesses
England manager Sarina Wiegman is confident Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Ruby Mace can both make the most of their first senior call-ups to an injury-hit squad.
Wales promoted as Cullen double freezes out Iceland
Wales won Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two international goals helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.
Retail bosses gifted excuse for when things go wrong
It’s not just British farmers who are hacked off by the latest Budget some of the biggest names in retail have now joined forces to send one of those angry, multi-signature letters to the chancellor, scolding her for the imminent tax hikes coming their way.
Jaguar pounces on new logo
Car giant Jaguar has unveiled a new logo and a rebranded range of electric cars alongside marketing slogans such as “delete ordinary,” “live vivid,” and “copy nothing.”
OF UNSOUND MIND
A disquieting mood permeates the BBC's 'The Listeners', the complex story of a teacher whose life unravels after she starts hearing a ceaseless, mysterious hum, writes Nick Hilton
It's grit over gloss in photo show's eye on the Eighties
Protest, poverty and privilege - The 80s: Photographing Britain at Tate Britain offers an exciting, if partial, view of a decade that remains highly polarising, writes Mark Hudson
Publicly-owned rail may not get us back on right track
Nationalisation is often touted as a golden ticket to a better train service. Simon Calder is less optimistic it will work
CAFFEINE FIX
Why does a squirt of syrup in your coffee at Christmas burn such a massive hole in your wallet? Olivia Petter finds out.
Longing and loss: our era of British cinematic elegance
It is four decades since A Room with a View’ made Merchant Ivory a household name. Sarah Sands recalls a world in which her brother Kit and her then husband Julian were central
