Ross Clark Ross Clark

The EU’s new travel rules won’t stop illegal migration

Credit: Getty images

Like it or not, for ordinary people, Brexit is about to make itself felt in a way which it has not done so far. MEPs have finally given their approval to the EU’s much-delayed Entry and Exit System (EES), which will now be introduced over a six month period starting in October. It means that from that date, all visitors with a UK passport will have to have a facial scan and their fingerprints taken at the border when they travel to the EU. In the case of Eurostar passengers and those taking Eurotunnel or sea routes, the biometric information will be collected physically in Britain before you leave – owing to reciprocal arrangements whereby EU border officials work on UK soil and vice versa.

No passport, no Etias, no nothing required – only a good story

The introduction of EES paves the way for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) to be introduced from next year.

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