French authorities have indicated they will not suspend the Entry-Exit System (EES) border processing at Dover despite concerns over potential traffic congestion, prompting warnings from local officials about severe delays during the summer holidays. The port is preparing for what is expected to be its busiest weekend of the year, with an estimated 10,000 vehicles forecasted to travel to France on Saturday.
Kent officials and Members of Parliament have expressed serious apprehension about the impact of the EES, which replaced manual passport stamping last year for Britons and other non-EU nationals entering Schengen countries. The system requires travelers to register by scanning their passports and submitting biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints, upon arrival.
Sir Roger Gale, MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, described the handling of holiday travelers under the new system as using them “as guinea pigs,” warning that extended delays—potentially in excess of 12 hours—may pose health risks, especially during heatwaves. Gale has called on incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to engage with French President Emmanuel Macron to seek a temporary suspension of the EES during peak travel periods.
Port of Dover modeling had previously suggested that queues arising from the EES could last up to half a day. However, more recent assessments indicate that additional border kiosks installed by French authorities may reduce wait times to between four and six hours. Despite these improvements, concerns remain over the system’s capacity during high-volume travel days.
The UK government has arranged for Lydden Hill motor racing track, located approximately five miles from the port, to serve as an emergency overflow site for vehicles should queues extend onto local roads or the approach to the Eurotunnel.
Operators at the port reported a critical incident in early May when IT problems and EES registration delays caused queues exceeding four and a half hours, prompting temporary suspension of car passenger processing. European Commission rules allow for temporary suspension of biometric checks until September in cases of excessive border queues; however, it is understood that French border officials, Police Aux Frontières, have made clear they do not intend to waive the initial registration step regardless of congestion.
An unnamed source involved in traffic management expressed pessimism about the upcoming summer weekends, anticipating significant operational challenges and lengthy delays. The source remarked, “We’re expecting a real shitshow for the next six weekends,” underscoring the scale of concern among local authorities and stakeholders involved in border traffic control.
As holiday travel intensifies, the unfolding situation at Dover will test the resilience and flexibility of new border controls introduced as part of the EU’s broader security measures.