Logistics UK Urges Caution as EU’s Entry/Exit System Goes Live
The European Union’s long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force on 12 October, introducing new biometric border checks for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area. While designed to strengthen border security and streamline data collection, the new system is prompting serious concern from the UK logistics industry, which warns that its implementation could cause significant disruption to freight movement at key trade routes—particularly the Short Straits crossings between the UK and France.
A Major Change for Border Management
The EES will record non-EU travellers’ details—including fingerprints and facial recognition—when crossing the external borders of the 29 Schengen countries. Each traveller’s first entry will require creating a digital profile, storing biometric and passport data to replace manual passport stamping.
However, the system applies only within the Schengen zone, meaning travel to the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus remains unaffected. For most UK hauliers and travellers, the first point of contact with EES will be at French border controls in Calais, Dunkirk, or Eurotunnel terminals.
Business group Logistics UK has welcomed the EU’s intention to enhance security but insists that the rollout must be carefully phased to prevent major disruption. “It is essential that the new border systems are implemented gradually to keep traffic flowing and trade moving,” said Josh Fenton, Logistics UK’s Policy Manager for Trade, Customs and Borders.
The Short Straits: A Critical Trade Artery
The stakes could hardly be higher. Nearly 60% of UK-EU trade in goods passes through the Short Straits crossings—a route used by around 3.35 million heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) each year. The introduction of biometric checks could add minutes to each vehicle’s processing time, creating bottlenecks with potentially severe economic consequences.
“The additional time required for passengers to register biometric details when they leave the UK has the potential to cause knock-on delays for freight traffic and disrupt the UK’s supply chain,” Fenton warned. “It is more than just an inconvenience. Our analysis shows that even a 90-minute delay for the HGVs using the Short Straits could cost the UK economy £400 million per year.”
To avoid this scenario, Logistics UK is urging the EU to follow through on its commitment to a phased implementation, allowing both authorities and operators to adapt gradually.
Call for a Remote Registration Solution
One of Logistics UK’s key proposals is the development of a remote registration app that would allow travellers and freight drivers to submit biometric data before reaching the border.
Fenton explained that this kind of technology would help ease congestion by removing the need for lengthy in-person checks at border control points. “We are calling on the UK Government to work with the French authorities to develop an app so EES registration can be carried out remotely and away from the border,” he said.
He also noted that the logistics sector has been preparing for EES for several years. The system was originally due to launch in 2024, but delays—secured in part through industry lobbying—gave operators more time to prepare. Still, even with extra time, Fenton cautioned that some disruption is inevitable as the system beds in. Logistics UK advises member companies to plan for longer journey times during the early weeks of implementation.
Compliance and the 90/180-Day Rule
Beyond congestion risks, the EES introduces new challenges for UK-based professional drivers. One of its automated functions will monitor compliance with the 90/180-day rule, which limits non-EU citizens to spending no more than 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen zone.
“The new EES system will automatically log time spent within the Schengen area, so it is essential that drivers comply with the current legal requirement,” Fenton explained. “Both personal travel and commercial work count towards that total. As the system will automatically detect overstayers, drivers and operators must ensure they remain compliant.”
Logistics UK argues that the existing rule is not suited to professional transport operations, where drivers may cross EU borders frequently in the course of their work. The group is therefore lobbying the UK government to seek an exemption for professional drivers, which would allow them to continue operating seamlessly across the EU without breaching immigration limits.
Balancing Security and Trade Efficiency
While the EES promises a more secure and efficient border for the EU, its impact on trade and transport must be carefully managed. The combination of new technology, staff training, and passenger unfamiliarity could create bottlenecks during the system’s initial phase.
For Logistics UK, the priority is ensuring that these teething problems do not harm the country’s vital freight corridors. “The logistics sector is fully supportive of modern, secure borders,” Fenton said. “But implementation must be done in a way that protects the smooth flow of goods and avoids unnecessary costs to the economy.”
As the system goes live this weekend, the industry will be watching closely to see whether the EU’s promises of a gradual rollout are honoured. For now, the message from Logistics UK is clear: caution, collaboration, and careful planning will be essential to keep UK-EU trade moving without major disruption.
Please contact Tan Son Nhat Cargo for prompt assistance
Learn more:
Mở rộng nhà ga quốc tế Tân Sơn Nhất: Giải pháp giảm ùn tắc
Hãng bay mới vừa xuất hiện trên thị trường bao giờ vận hành?
Nhân viên sân bay Thái Lan bỏ qua khi tôi mang hành lý xách tay thừa cân
