The European Union has confirmed that it has once again postponed the launch date of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to May 2025.
“Due to unforeseen delays, it has become evident that this timeline is unattainable. As a result, the implementation of the ETIAS has been rescheduled to May 2025, with the possibility of further postponement,” an EU official told schengenvisainfo.com.
ETIAS, many times postponed, was meant to be preceded by another EU border security system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), which will register foreign travellers each time they cross an EU external border and work hand-in-hand with ETIAS. The system has been continuously postponed alongside ETIAS.
“We had initially hoped for the EES to become operational by the end of this year or, at the latest, the beginning of next year. Both systems are deeply linked. Though the Entry/Exit can function properly without the ETIAS, it is impossible for the latter to become operational without the EES,” said the EU official.
According to Anitta Hipper, the EU Commission’s Spokesperson for Home Affairs, Migration and Internal Security, ETIAS can only be implemented five to six months after the entry into operation of the EES.
The EES will likely be implemented in 2024. eu-LISA, the agency that manages Schengen Information Systems, is expected to provide an exact date for the roll-out before the end of the year.
