EU Entry/Exit System (EES) implementation deadline remains 9 April 2026

There have been reports in the media over the past week suggesting the completion of the EES rollout has been postponed until September 2026. These reports are incorrect. 

On Friday 30 January, the European Commission confirmed the deadline is 9 April, and that the legislation allows Member States to continue to apply contingency measures through to September 2026, which would help during the busy summer months. This is not new and has always been part of the EES rollout plans.

ABTA has written to the European Commission to encourage the use of contingency measures now, and over the summer, to help avoid unnecessarily long queues.