Whatever you think of the European Union and our relationship with it, there’s no denying that it is a formidable organisation.
So, you would imagine, if ten years ago it had come up with a relatively simple idea to help secure its borders, it would have developed a world-beating system by now.
The huge hangar with the drive-up terminals at Eurotunnel in Folkestone
With all the financial clout behind it and the access to the greatest technology available, you would imagine it would conjure up a real humdinger.
Something smooth and efficient – a barely noticeable layer to keep everyone happy.
You would, of course, be wrong.
Welcome to the world of the EU’s much-trumpeted Entry/Exit System (EES). Designed to ensure the EU had a record of everyone on its soil at any given moment (not unreasonable) it requires biometrics on arrival and departure – in other words, your fingerprints and mugshot.
Yet it is single-handedly acting as the major deterrent to British holidaymakers thinking of a European holiday this year and leaving the EU looking rather daft in the process.
Scanning your fingerprints is a key requirement – but you only have to do that bit once every three years
Currently, it seems to be going out of its way to punish those who are not members of the broader EU/Schengen area family.
If you’ve not heard of the EES but you’re heading to Europe this half-term by plane or port, you soon will.
Chances are you’ll lose several previous hours of your holiday in a queue waiting to access one of its machines so you can input your details.
Granted, it’s working fine in some places, but other Brits have been so delayed at airports when heading home they have actually missed their flight.
Because French customs at Dover and the Channel Tunnel are on this side of the water, the EES machines are here too. Ditto Eurostar’s terminal at St Pancras in London.
The Eurotunnel EES check-in hangar can handle more than 50 cars at any one time…but it’s not working yet for most
But, as the icing on this ludicrous cake, none of them have been turned on by French officials yet for anyone other than coach passengers and HGV drivers. Staff will still have to create a file for each passenger – but just without the key biometrics the EU was so keen on. An electronic placeholder on the EU’s security cloud, as it were.
Ten years in development, millions spent by the likes of the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel to ensure compliance, six months in live testing. And it’s still not working. Through, it should be said, no fault of the operators.
They’re waiting on French officials to give it the green light.
But here we are in May – and it’s first real test – and if you wanted a gamble, the smart money would be on it not being fully up and running until September. The can kicked further down the road and beyond the school summer holidays.
Some relief for those using our ports, perhaps, but not so for others.
The EU has dropped the ball with its EES. Picture: iStock
The situation has got so bad, Greece has said Brits (five million of us visit each year) will be exempt to prevent chaos at its airports. Which, while welcome, surely makes a mockery of the whole process?
Perhaps not surprisingly, the EU isn’t best pleased.
Whatever your views on the EU – this EES mess has not been its finest hour.