Dover Port Faces Chaos Due to EU Entry/Exit System Failures

The Port of Dover is facing the prospect of 'utter chaos' due to the European Union's (EU) entry/exit system (EES). Members of Parliament (MPs) are urging the government to put pressure on French authorities to fix the system or suspend checks by next week. The EES, designed to speed up biometric controls at borders, has been plagued by technical issues, causing significant delays at the port. In May, the port experienced delays of over four hours due to EES checks, and it expects almost 50% more vehicles to travel through Dover this summer. The EU has rejected calls to suspend EES, despite admitting to '20 difficult spots' where the system is causing tailbacks. A committee of MPs visited the port and saw the changed layout, including 84 automatic kiosks for EES, which cannot be used due to problems with the technology supplied by France. Committee chair Karen Bradley said, 'We saw for ourselves that there will be utter chaos next week unless the French authorities step up. And the people who will suffer are British holidaymakers and firms attempting to transport goods.' The government is pushing for the movement of people to be given precedence at EU borders. Shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers criticized the 'delusional attitude' among EU colleagues that the EES is working fine, saying, 'The government must stand behind the interests of British travelers.' The port's CEO, Doug Bannister, warned that EES problems could have a significant impact on local towns, transport, and trade if not resolved. The EES was launched in October, but technical issues have caused significant delays. The International Air Transport Association has called for action on the checks, highlighting 'delays and missed connections' in several European countries. The situation could become a major problem during the summer months, and the government needs to take urgent action to resolve the EES issues.