Portugal to suspend EU Entry/Exit System at airport

LISBON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Portugal announced Tuesday that it will suspend the use of the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU citizens for three months at Lisbon Airport, citing severe congestion at border control upon passenger arrivals.

The Ministry of Internal Administration said it has immediately deployed additional personnel and decided to increase the capacity of electronic and physical equipment for external border control by about 30 percent, up to the maximum supported by the current airport infrastructure, in order to improve clearance efficiency and ease the backlog of incoming passengers.

Waiting times for non-EU arrivals at Lisbon Airport on Tuesday exceeded seven hours, disrupting airline operations and causing some passengers to miss connecting flights, local media reported.

The ministry attributed the delays mainly to the EES, which started operations on Oct. 12 and entered its second phase on Dec. 10, when biometric data collection began. The system has significantly slowed clearance for travelers from outside the Schengen Area, often resulting in hours-long waits.

Long queues at immigration control at Lisbon Airport have drawn repeated criticism in recent months, with waiting times peaking at more than nine hours.

Portugal's Public Security Police, responsible for airport border control, previously deployed 80 additional officers during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. With the suspension of the EES, border checks for non-EU arrivals will temporarily revert to traditional passport reading and manual stamping.

The EES is designed to strengthen border management and information sharing, and combat identity fraud and illegal immigration. Under the system, non-EU nationals -- except those holding residence permits or with direct family ties to EU citizens -- are required to register electronically upon their first entry into the Schengen Area, providing passport details and biometric data. Some information can be submitted in advance via applications or self-service kiosks. ■