Greece to fast-track UK visitors until EU entry-exit system is fixed, says minister

After Greece decided unilaterally to scrap biometric border checks for British visitors, the tourism minister has said the “UK fast track” will continue until the EU entry-exit system (EES) is improved.

Olga Kefalogianni told The Independent: “We aim to actually make sure that this facilitation is not just valid for this year.”

Since 10 April, the European Commission has insisted that “third-country nationals” including the British should have their details registered on a central database when crossing Schengen area frontiers.

On the first entry or exit, the four fingerprints of the right hand plus a facial biometric should be collected. On subsequent crossings, only one biometric needs to be captured – almost always the face.

According to officials in Brussels, all the Schengen nations agreed that they were ready for EES. But at some airports across Europe, British visitors have waited for hours to get through the border. Many have found they have to provide their fingerprints multiple times. Some have missed flights home because the queue to leave was so long.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the Greek minister said: “In the very beginning of the season we faced some delays in the whole process at the airports.”

Under EES legislation, member states can briefly suspend biometrics at crossing points where long queues build up.

But the government in Athens took a unilateral decision to drop the biometric requirement completely for British visitors until further notice.

Ms Kefalogianni said: “We really want our travellers to have the best experience and we understand that any inconvenience in getting into Greece or exiting would create a frustration.

“We really don’t want anyone to have to face a lot of bureaucracy, so we have managed to facilitate the system in order for British citizens to not have any burden, especially at the airports.

“So it’s just a very easy way to come in and exit the country. Up to now it’s been like a minute or so just to come in and out.”

The move was expected to trigger an immediate demand from the European Commission for Athens to fall into line. But action has yet to be taken. Meanwhile according to data from the Advantage Travel Partnership, sales of summer holidays to Greece have overtake those for mainland Spain.

The Greek tourism minister said: “We are part of the Schengen area. We aim always to abide by the rules, but at the same time we want our visitors to feel very welcome. And having a bureaucratic burden at the airports, we understand, is not really a fuss-free situation. So we just made sure for our visitors to have a fuss-free experience. That’s all potential visitors need to know.”

One reason for the shambolic introduction of the EES is thought to be the failure for member states to adopt a Europe-wide app. The “Travel to Europe” app is optional both for travellers and member states. So far only Sweden has adopted it in full to allow third-country nationals to provide passport data and a facial image. Portugal uses it in a limited role to allow travellers to answer an entry questionnaire.

The European Union says: “The other European countries using the EES may make the app available later. The specific functionalities offered may also vary from country to country.”

Ms Kefalogianni said that technology should be used “to make sure that you can do the controls that you need to do, but at the same time relax the bureaucracy”.

She said: “Definitely we could make very good use of technology in order for visitors’ experience to be much smoother. Since technology is part of our everyday life, it should also make our life easier in all respects.”

It is understood Greece does not intend to collect biometrics until a better system is developed.

Dr Nick Brown, the data sleuth who has studied all the relevant EU legislation, said: “Presumably the Commission has other fish to fry right now, but I assume they will not let ‘One EU country making exceptions for the citizens of a non-EU country’ last for more than one season.”

But the tourism minister said: “I think that all European partners welcoming many British visitors have the same interest in making sure that we can facilitate their entry and exit.

“What is important for travellers is to know for a fact that they will not face any delays or any burden when entering or exiting Greece.”

Read more: Your EU entry-exit system questions answered