French tech issues delay border checks rollout

New border controls at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel could be delayed further due to technical issues, the BBC understands.

Authorities in England say French counterparts are having problems communicating with the kiosks that scan faces, fingerprints and passports for the new checks.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), already in place at the Kent ferry port for lorry drivers and coach passengers, was scheduled to be rolled out to travellers with cars within six weeks after earlier delays.

The French Interior Ministry said the registration tools were "undergoing technical work that is being finalised".

EES replaces passport stamping for visitors from outside the EU to the Schengen Area, which is made up of 29 European countries.

Schengen Area states "will be able for several more months to use certain relaxations to maintain satisfactory levels of fluidity at the borders", the ministry said.

The European Union has said that member countries can suspend the checks during periods of high demand until September.

Toby Howe, of the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum, said the port and Eurotunnel were "ready to go" but there had been "some technological problems on the French side".

Port of Dover introduced the process for coach, freight and foot passengers in October but paused its introduction for travellers with cars, which had been due in November.

The ferry terminal said it was working closely with its French border-agency partners to ensure a smooth introduction of EES.

According to Eurotunnel, the required infrastructure is in place in Folkestone and "ready to operate as soon as we receive the go ahead from the French authorities".

Passengers have previously reported hours-long waits at some European airports during busy times due to the new systems.

Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills said that EES was a "potential car crash".

"What we need to do is make sure all the systems work, they're ready for the capacity testing, and they deliver because, if we don't, then we are going to come to gridlock in Dover," he told the BBC.

EES is scheduled to be active at every Schengen Area border crossing point by 10 April.

Once a profile is created on the system, the registration will be valid for three years with the details verified on each trip during that period.

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