Negative Impacts of the EU’s New Border IT System: Warnings from the Port of Dover and Ferry Companies

The EU’s new border IT system, known as the Entry Exit System (EES), has been a topic of concern for several months now. The system, which is set to be implemented this autumn, has been met with warnings from various stakeholders, including the Port of Dover and ferry companies. These organizations have raised serious concerns about the potential negative impacts of the EES on communities, businesses, and critical supply chains on both sides of the Channel.

The EES requires people entering the EU to register their fingerprints, a photo, and passport details. While this measure is intended to enhance border security, it is predicted to cause long queues due to the extra time registration will take. Juxtaposed border controls, where French border police check passports as people leave the UK to cross the Channel from Dover, London St Pancras, and Folkestone, are expected to exacerbate the issue.

In joint written evidence to the European Scrutiny Committee, the Port of Dover, DFDS, Irish Ferries, and P&O Ferries warned of an “existential risk facing critical supply chains, businesses, communities, and the tourism economy of nations on both sides of the Channel from the current lack of appropriate regime for the introduction of the EU Entry Exit System (EES)”. They specifically highlighted the severe impact on Dover’s ferry business, stating that the system “would not be capable of processing current car and coaches volumes”.

Kent and Ashford councils also cautioned against the potential for very long queues, quoting a reasonable worst-case scenario of up to 14 hours. Ashford Borough Council’s written evidence further noted that such queues would create welfare concerns for passengers and have a significant effect on local communities, specifically the towns of Dover, Folkestone, and Ashford.

Tourism organization Visit Kent expressed concern about the EES’s potential to disrupt the local economy. Eurostar, which has previously warned of the issues the EES could pose, also noted that the system was designed for airports rather than constrained city centre terminals, making its implementation a unique challenge.

Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel, reported that the EES would add five to seven minutes to the overall journey time of passengers using the tunnel. The chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, Sir William Cash, painted an alarming picture of the possible risks surrounding the EES’s implementation, imploring decision-makers on both sides of the Channel to address these issues urgently.

The Port of Dover’s CEO has previously called on the government to press for a solution where registration could be completed away from the port. The prime minister’s spokesperson stated that there were tried and tested contingency plans in place and that the UK was working closely with the French and all port authorities to ensure that travellers and passengers do not experience any unnecessary delays.

Despite these assurances, the warnings from the Port of Dover and ferry companies underscore the potential for significant disruptions to travel and trade across the English Channel. The clock is ticking, and it is crucial that decision-makers on both sides of the Channel address these concerns to mitigate the negative impacts of the EU’s new border IT system.

In conclusion, the implementation of the EU’s new border IT system, the Entry Exit System (EES), has raised serious concerns from various stakeholders, including the Port of Dover and ferry companies. These organizations have warned of the potential negative impacts on communities, businesses, and critical supply chains, specifically in relation to the severe impact on Dover’s ferry business and the potential for very long queues. The clock is ticking, and it is crucial that decision-makers on both sides of the Channel address these concerns to mitigate the negative impacts of the EU’s new border IT system.