Two thirds of UK adults are unaware of new EU biometric border controls set to ... trends now
Two thirds of UK adults are unaware of the new EU biometric border controls which will be enforced for British holidaymakers from October, according to a survey.
British and non-EU passport holders will soon have to go through fingerprint checks and face scans under the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
The system will check each passenger's name and biometric data when they enter an EU country.
But 63 per cent of UK adults are not aware of the drastic upcoming changes in travelling to the continent, according to a poll from Co-op Insurance.
The research also showed nearly a quarter of Brits (22 per cent) said they would be 'put off' visiting the continent due to the new system.
The research shows nearly a quarter of Brits (22 per cent) said they would be 'put off' visiting the continent due to the new system. File image of queues at the Port of Dover - one of the locations where the new border checks will be in place - on August 26, 2023
British and non-EU passport holders will have to go through fingerprint checks and face scans under the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
Of those 'put off' by the new process, just under half (46 per cent) said they didn't like the idea of their details being captured and remaining in the system for up to three years.
Whilst almost two fifths (38 per cent) said the potential for 'long delays at border control' would make them think twice.
The changes will see the introduction of a 'digital border' between EU/Schengen Area countries and those outside
It will replace the stamping of passports, which began after Brexit when the UK became a 'third country' to the bloc – meaning it is not a member state and does not have the right to free movement within the EU.
French officials will carry out EES border checks at Dover for the Eurotunnel and at St Pancras International for the Eurostar.
Lord Cameron, James Cleverly and Mark Harper have all raised concerns about the new system with French ministers, noting that the changes could lead to travel chaos, the Telegraph reported last week.
Lord Cameron, James Cleverly and Mark Harper have all raised concerns about the new system with French ministers, noting that the changes could lead to travel chaos
Rishi Sunak (right) was supposed to bring up the EES plans during a call with Emmanuel Macron last month, but the two leaders ended up addressing other topics. But he did speak to Ursula von der Leyen (left), the president of the European Commission who is hoping to be reappointed next month, about the new checks
One senior Government source familiar with the discussions on the new checks told the paper: 'The main risk is that we are in the hands of the French in those places where there is going to be disruption on UK soil.'
Rishi Sunak was supposed to bring up the EES plans during a call with Emmanuel Macron last month, but the two leaders ended up addressing other topics.
But the Prime Minister did speak to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission who is hoping to be reappointed next month, about the new checks.
Some nations have previously expressed concerns about how much time the EES process will add to queues at EU borders, with the Slovenian government saying it will take 'up to four times longer'.
According to the Co-op Insurance
