General Updates
European Union
The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) has announced that the planned date of entry into operation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) of May 2023 is considered no longer achievable due to delays from the contractors.
The Agency is currently preparing a revised timeline that it will present for approval at the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council in March 2023.
The EES is an automated IT system for registering travellers from third-countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa exempt travellers, each time they cross an EU external border.
The EES will also be connected to the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) which will require non-EU visa exempt nationals to obtain a prior travel authorisation to enter the EU at a cost of €7. ETIAS is currently expected to open in November 2023.
