End of EES waiver raises queue fears at Italy's eastern border

A rule that allowed border guards to pause new EU biometric passport checks at busy times expired over the weekend, raising the prospect of longer queues at Italy's airports and land crossings, according to The Local Italy.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), which records travellers' biometric data on entry to the Schengen area, had been subject to a waiver permitting authorities to suspend the checks temporarily when queues threatened to become unmanageable. That flexibility has now lapsed, meaning the checks must be applied in full at all times.

For Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the change carries particular weight. The region hosts Italy's principal land border with Slovenia, a key entry point for travellers from the Balkans and Central Europe, as well as the port of Trieste, a busy hub for passenger ferries and cruise traffic.

The Local Italy reported that the waiver's end could mean slower processing at busy border points across the country, with airports expected to feel the impact most acutely during peak travel periods. The EES system, rolled out across the Schengen area, requires travellers from non-EU countries to register fingerprints and facial images on first entry, a process that takes longer than the traditional passport stamp.

The question of how the checks are carried out is particularly acute for Trieste's port, which has grown as a gateway for both freight and passenger traffic linking Italy to Greece, Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. Ferry operators have previously warned that additional biometric checks could slow embarkation and disembarkation, though the cited report does not specify impacts on maritime routes.

At the land border with Slovenia, the nearby crossing at Fernetti and the rail link through Villa Opicina have historically handled significant traffic from the Balkans. The Local Italy's report does not detail conditions at these specific crossings, but the general concern about longer queues applies to all Schengen entry points.

The EES was designed to strengthen security and track overstayers, but its rollout has been repeatedly delayed amid technical difficulties and concerns about infrastructure readiness. The expiry of the waiver marks a step toward full enforcement, with authorities now expected to apply the checks consistently even at peak times.