The government has announced £10.5 million to support the Port of Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel in preparation for upcoming changes at the border being implemented by the EU.
A new Entry/Exit System (EES) is to be introduced by the EU this autumn as it transitions to a new digital border system.
This means that travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries will have to register at the border by having their fingerprints and photograph taken.
To reduce the risk of queuing and any additional disruption the government has pledged to act with this funding to install EES technology and complete work to get their sites ready for the checks coming into force.
Each port is expected to receive a £3.5 million funding boost, Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood said: “Nobody wants to see excessive queues at our ports, which is why we’re providing this funding to ensure our borders are as prepared as possible for the upcoming change – despite EES being an EU initiative.
“Since coming into government, we have been reviewing plans and closely supporting ports to make sure they have the right processes in place so that EES registration can be smooth and queue times kept to a minimum.”
During his visit to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, highlighted that while EES checks will be a significant change to the EU border, the government is working with the European Commission to ensure preparation to minimise disruption for Brits traveling into Europe.
“This additional funding for ports will ensure they have the right technology and processes in place, so that EES registration can take place as smoothly as possible,” added Seema.
According to the government, at the Port of Dover, this funding will accelerate the Granville Dock Project, filling in the Western Docks marina to create space for EES processing.
Emma Ward, Chief Operations Officer, Port of Dover, welcomed the funding and preparations for the introduction of the EU’s EES scheme.
Emma said: “We are doing all that we can to be ready with the facilities that will be used by French border officials operating the new system whilst we continue to work with the UK government to deliver more seamless travel between the UK and EU.”
For Eurotunnel and Eurostar, the funds will support installing additional EES kiosks, conducting thorough testing to reduce potential disruptions, and recruiting and training staff to ensure a smoother EES implementation.
Simon Lejeune, Eurostar Chief Safety and Stations Officer also welcomed support from the government underlining the importance of upgrading technology to meet the new requirements.
Simon said Eurostar will be fully prepared and compliant by November, ensuring a smooth transition for all passengers.
“To ensure our customers continue to enjoy a seamless Eurostar experience as we prepare for the implementation of EES, we have made substantial investments in our station infrastructure,” he added.