The first British and other non-EU citizens will be subjected to new biometric checks when travelling to Europe from Sunday, when the long-delayed entry-exit system (EES) is finally launched. Under EES, most non-EU or non-European Economic Area citizens or residents will be photographed and have their fingerprints scanned at the border to travel into the Schengen area. Cross-Channel departure points where the French and EU border is on UK soil, including Eurostar at St Pancras international train station, have invested tens of millions of pounds in infrastructure and computer systems to comply with the new requirements. During the rollout, EU member states would be able to decide when and where they started deploying the system. Keir Mather, a UK transport minister, said: “Our priority is to minimise disruption for travellers and hauliers, particularly at our busiest border crossings.
