EU set to launch Entry/Exit System on Oct 12 to streamline border checks for non-EU travellers

The European Commission first proposed the EES in April 2016 as part of the revised Smart Borders Package. Following negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council, the regulation was adopted in November 2017 and entered into force the following month. In December 2024, the Commission proposed a progressive launch to ensure a smooth transition across all member states, a move formally endorsed by the European Parliament and the Council in May 2025.