The new EU Entry/Exit System rules have sparked chaos at airports across Europe, with huge queues and long delays for UK tourists
11:40, 03 May 2026Updated 11:44, 03 May 2026
Might Spain be next to ditch the EU Entry/Exit system? (pictured Mallorca)(Image: Cristian Mircea Balate via Getty Images)
Portugal and Italy are set to join Greece in abandoning new EU border checks, with Spain potentially set to follow suit.
The new Entry/Exit System (EES) regulations require all non-EU travellers to use designated kiosks at airports and border crossings to provide their biometric data – facial scans and fingerprints.
However, the changes have triggered chaos at major airports throughout Europe, resulting in enormous queues and lengthy delays.
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Greece has suspended the checks until September, while Portugal is now waving passengers through gates whenever queues become too lengthy, reports the Express. Italy is now also expected to follow and allow people to enter on a passport stamp as the May half-term looms.
The Daily Mail also reports that France, Croatia, and Spain could follow suit.
Seamus McCauley, of travel company Holiday Extras, said: “Countries are not going to sit back and let Greece take their trade because they won’t face EES delays at airports. To do so would be politically toxic as jobs are on the line.
“The rollout has been an utter fiasco. British tourists are worth €3.5billion a year to the Greek economy and it has rightly decided it will not jeopardise that because EES is not working properly.”
Budget airline Ryanair has also called on popular holiday destinations to scrap the checks.
Chief Operations officer Neil McMahon said: “Governments are attempting to roll out a half-baked IT system in the middle of the busiest travel season.
“Passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure hours-long passport control queues and, in some cases, missing flights.
“The solution is simple – governments should suspend EES until September.”