BELGIUM – The European Union Council on Friday greenlighted the implementation of the new integrated border management system (Entry/Exit System – EES).

The EES, which will record non-EU nationals’ entry and exit data, including passport information, fingerprints, and facial images, aims to boost the efficiency of external border checks and combat identity fraud and overstays in the Schengen area.

“The new rules enable those member states who wish to implement the EES gradually over a 180 days period to do so, while making it possible for others to start operating the system fully from day one,” said a Council of the EU statement.

During the transition, border authorities will continue manually stamping travel documents, while the registration of biometric data is required by the end of the transition period.

The European Commission will set the exact date for the system’s phased start.