Ministers are also considering writing to more countries, including travel hotspots like Spain and France
The UK has directly urged Germany and the Netherlands to open passport e-gates to Britons in time for the summer holidays amid fears travellers still face queues despite the Brexit reset deal.
EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to Berlin and The Hague in a bid to get the e-gates up and running by summer as the Government looks to deliver benefits from its deal with Brussels as quickly as possible.
Thomas-Symonds has also written to Greece to urge the country to allow Britons to use e-gates “now”, arguing that it would be a “significant symbol” of its “friendship” with Britain.
The i Paper understands Thomas-Symonds’ letters to Germany and the Netherlands contained a similar message and that he is also considering writing to more countries, including travel hotspots like Spain and France, while balancing diplomatic sensitivity.
Sir Keir Starmer said last week’s deal with the EU would bring an end to “huge queues at passport control” by allowing UK citizens to use e-gates, which are currently restricted to European travellers in most countries.
But the arrangement still has to be signed off by individual member states, meaning there is no guarantee it will be in place by the summer holidays.
The deal also envisaged that Britons would only be allowed to use the e-gates after the EU’s new entry/exit system comes into force in October, which itself is predicted to cause delays due to a separate need for travellers to input biometric data at ports and airports the first time they go to the continent after its introduction.
In some European airports, such as in Portugal, British visitors are allowed to use e-gates but still have to get their passports stamped because of Brexit restrictions that limit visa-free visits to the EU to 180 days a year, or 90 days at a time.
The post-Brexit rules have caused queues that can sometimes be hours-long, but EU citizens are allowed to use e-gates, which tend to be much faster, at British ports and airports.
Starmer’s Brexit reset deal with Brussels this week formally noted that there are “no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals traveling to and from European Union member states” after the introduction of EES.
But the Prime Minister said he would be “pressing hard” for member states to throw open e-gates to British travellers sooner, in a bid to help those on their summer getaways.
Labour MP Luke Charters said: “It’s great to see the Government taking action to cut passport queues for British holidaymakers heading to Europe.
“I’ve been campaigning for this, and it’s absolutely right to prioritise popular summer destinations.
“Countries like Greece and Spain should now move quickly to roll out eGate access.
“After all, shorter queues mean British tourists spend less time waiting and therefore spend more money enjoying themselves in those countries.”