EUROPE SHIELDS UP: New 'smart' border controls arrive in October

The European Union will launch its new Entry/Exit System (EES) at all its external borders starting in October , a technological tool designed to strengthen the control of third-country nationals . This measure comes at a time of intense political debates and internal crises over migration and asylum management.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace the current manual passport stamping with an automated biometric system. This will electronically record:

• Name
• Travel document
• Biometric data (fingerprints and facial image)
• Date and place of entry and exit

The system's goal is to accurately identify short-stay travelers and detect cases of visa overstays or false identities . The EES is expected to streamline screening for most visitors, although its implementation phase could cause delays and confusion .

The European Commission presents it as a key tool for modernizing border management , strengthening security , and combating irregular immigration . However, experts warn that in areas with high migration pressure , such as Greece or Spain, the transition could be problematic and fuel political tensions.

The arrival of the EES comes amid a wave of internal disagreements within the EU over migration policy . A recent example: the government crisis in the Netherlands , where Geert Wilders' party (PVV) broke away from the governing coalition over disagreements over asylum, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Dick Schoof .

Dick Schoof : “The PVV’s decision [to leave the coalition over asylum policies] is irresponsible and unnecessary.”

This episode reflects the high sensitivity of the migration issue within national politics and how control measures like the EES can become weapons of electoral debate rather than technical solutions.

While some southern countries are grappling with active migration routes across the Mediterranean , the EU also continues to host millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war with Russia . Although their temporary protection has been extended , the pressure on asylum and reception systems remains high.

This complex and changing context has led the EU to rely on technological solutions such as the EES, which promise efficiency and traceability , but risk shifting the underlying political focus : how to balance border control with internal solidarity and respect for the right to asylum ?

The EES is part of a broader package that also includes the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), planned for a later date. But along with their advantages, these systems have raised concerns :

• Possible privacy violation due to intensive use of biometrics.
• Risk of algorithmic discrimination .
• Creation of a " digital wall " that hinders access to asylum.

Various human rights organizations warn that these types of tools, although useful in identifying threats , do not address the structural causes of migration , such as war, poverty, or climate change.

The EES represents a determined commitment by Brussels to automate and better control its borders . But the real question is whether this type of tool can, on its own, resolve the migration crisis or whether it will merely be a digital patch on a structure that requires profound political reforms .

Without a firm agreement on the redistribution of responsibilities , greater investment in reception , and a common approach that combines security with human rights , the EU risks entering a vicious circle : crisis, hardening, discontent and new crises.

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