Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the indication by the Government of the Hellenic Republic of 20 April 2026 to not proceed with the collection of fingerprints or photographs under the EU Entry/Exit System for UK visitors temporarily, if she will hold urgent discussions with the European Commission and EU Member States on extending this exemption to other EU countries.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU scheme, and its implementation, including the use of flexibilities permitted by the relevant legislation on biometric collection, is a matter for the European Commission and participating EU member states.

The UK government wants to see EES implemented in a way that protects border fluidity and minimises disruption for travellers. We continue to engage with the EU, member states and travel industry partners to encourage a pragmatic approach to implementation.