Chief concedes 'technical problems' persist as EES border system causes airport chaos - Spain in English

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged in Cork, Ireland, that the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) still faces “technical problems” and requires “quite a lot of work” before the issues are fully resolved. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, she said the Commission is working with member states so that technical problems are solved together. Her remarks marked a shift from earlier messaging that minimized the disruption impact at most EU airports. The EES replaces traditional passport stamping for non-EU nationals with electronic recording of entries and exits, collecting biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images to help combat overstays and document fraud. The system applies across the 27-member EU except Ireland and Cyprus, and also covers non-EU Schengen associates including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Von der Leyen said the scheme did not change the legal rules, but adds transparency. Airport operators and airline groups report waiting times of up to five hours during peak periods, leading to delays and missed connections, and they are calling for adjustments to the rollout.