Port of Dover Faces ‘Utter Chaos’ Under Struggling EU Entry System, MPs Warn

The UK’s summer holidays are approaching, and the Port of Dover is bracing itself for a perfect storm that threatens to unleash “utter chaos” on British holidaymakers and businesses. The root cause of this impending disaster lies in the EU’s entry/exit system (EES), which has been plagued by technical issues since its rollout last October.

The EES, designed to speed up border checks, has instead become a major bottleneck. Delays of up to four hours have occurred during peak periods, such as the May half-term holiday. With almost 50% more vehicles expected to pass through Dover this summer, officials are warning that the port will be pushed to its limits unless urgent action is taken to resolve the issues.

The EU’s rejection of calls to suspend EES fingerprinting and facial recognition border controls has added fuel to the fire. While officials acknowledge “20 difficult spots” where the system is causing tailbacks, this downplays the true extent of the problem. In reality, these “difficult spots” are scattered throughout Europe, with airports and airlines from Portugal to Belgium experiencing delays and missed connections.

The situation at Dover is particularly dire due to technical issues supplied by French authorities. The port’s new biometric kiosk facility remains closed, while the western docks serve as a processing center for coach passengers undergoing EES checks. This pressure will only intensify during peak holiday traffic.

If officials fail to take immediate action, British holidaymakers can expect miles of tailbacks, and local towns and businesses will suffer from resulting congestion. Doug Bannister, the port’s chief executive, has warned that without greater flexibility in how EES is operated, “we will face repeated episodes of severe congestion throughout the summer holiday period.”

The EU’s entry/exit system was intended to streamline border checks, not create a nightmare scenario for holidaymakers and businesses. However, its implementation has been marred by technical issues, bureaucratic red tape, and a lack of flexibility. The French authorities’ inoperability of the EES kiosk technology is a glaring example of this.

As peak holiday traffic approaches, it’s imperative that officials take immediate action to resolve these issues. The Home Office must apply maximum pressure on the French authorities to fix the technology or suspend checks until further notice. Without it, we can expect repeated episodes of severe congestion throughout the summer holiday period.

The EU’s EES has been plagued by problems since its inception. Airlines and airports across Europe have warned about delays and missed connections, with the International Air Transport Association highlighting these issues in multiple countries. Ryanair has also warned of “queue chaos” in major holiday airports.

In light of these warnings, it’s surprising that the EU rejected calls to suspend EES checks. The discretionary power to temporarily suspend the system will only last until September, emphasizing the need for urgent action. Without it, we can expect severe congestion throughout the summer holiday period.

The situation at Dover is not unique; similar issues have plagued other ports and airports across Europe. However, the UK’s peak holiday traffic makes it a particularly pressing concern. The consequences of inaction will be far-reaching, affecting not just British holidaymakers but also local towns and businesses.

It’s time for officials to take action – fix the technology or suspend checks until further notice. Anything less will result in “utter chaos” at the Port of Dover and beyond.