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UK lawmakers urge PM to seek suspension of EU EES border controls
About 2.2 million British holidaymakers are expected to travel between Friday and Monday, and the Liberal Democrats want the EU to suspend the entry-exit system until at least September.
Liberal Democrats have urged UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to directly press EU leaders to suspend the EU’s new Entry Exit System border controls, calling the system “bungled” and “malfunctioning” during the peak overseas travel weekend.
The EES requires non-EU citizens to register on arrival and have their photographs and fingerprints taken, and while it has been in full force since April, border police were allowed to relax requirements during extreme delays. The party said passengers have still missed flights and faced queues for several hours.
Speaking at Heathrow Airport, Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said the government should seek suspension of the EES until at least September, arguing holidaymakers and hauliers should not be penalized for problems outside their control.
The travel association ABTA said Spain is expected to be the main destination for outbound travelers this weekend, with demand also noted for Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey, and it advised passengers to leave plenty of time.