UK: Transport Secretary & EU Commissioner to Ensure Smooth EES Border Checks

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has spoken with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism regarding the provision of support for holidaymakers through the EU’s enhanced security checks during the upcoming summer holiday period.

The Transport Secretary discussed the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) with EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas during a recent meeting which saw the former raise concerns over travellers looking to get away.

Both parties have now since agreed to work together in order to ensure travel across the border remains as seamless as possible during the upcoming summer and autumn months.

The meeting follows a recent announcement by the government stating that 20 million GBP of funding will be pledged to increase the number of passport check booths at the Port of Dover – on top of 10.5 million GBP already invested at Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar to prevent disruption.

This 20 million GBP funding injection will also aim to support an increase in vehicle processing capacity, reduction in wait times and easing of congestion in future years.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

We want everyone to have the summer holidays they deserve – and today’s meeting shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.

I was reassured that the EU commissioner for transport understood the concerns of holidaymakers and recognised the need for us to work together to make sure journeys are as seamless as possible during the busiest travel period of the year.