Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date they expect the EU will bring into force ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) and the EES (Entry / Exit System); what progress has been made in preparation for physical arrangements for crossing the border with EU Member States under these systems; and what agreement for these the Government has reached with the Police aux Frontières.

The EU Justice and Home Affairs Committee will meet on 19^th October to agree a timeline for EES and ETIAS implementation. HMG are working towards EES implementation in late 2024. ETIAS was originally expected to go live six months after EES, but we await confirmation of this in October.

The Government is engaging both the European Commission and French Government through officials holding routine technical meetings to understand and influence the implementation plans of the new system. This includes working with port owners and operators to understand and support their plans to mitigate EES and ETIAS impacts at the border. HMG’s focus is on the juxtaposed locations of Dover, St Pancras and Eurotunnel as the EES processes there will take place before departure from the UK.

We have recently received agreement in principle from the French Ministry of Interior to proceed with a proposal to relocate the coach facility at the port of Dover to enable EES, ETIAS and border control checks to take place in one location.

However, it is ultimately for EU Member States and port owners and operators to implement the new system.