Some European Countries Consider Suspending EES System to Ease Airport Crowds

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:51:00 +0200

Following Greece's recent decision to suspend the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for Serbian citizens from June 1 to August 30, news indicates that Italy and Portugal are considering similar measures for tourists to avoid overcrowding at their borders. The EES requires fingerprint registration and photographs of travelers from outside the EU, including countries like Serbia and the UK, to enter the Schengen Area. Travelers have reported significant delays, with incidents such as over 100 easyJet passengers missing flights in Milan last month, and tourists during early May holidays experiencing hours-long passport checks in Bergamo. Airports in Portugal are reportedly allowing passengers through if lines become excessively long, and Italy may follow Greece's example by permitting entry with a passport stamp. Travel experts suggest that Spain, France, and Croatia could adopt the same approach if the system continues to cause disruptions. Seamus McCauley from Holiday Extras highlighted that t