Audio By Carbonatix
The European Union has again delayed introducing a fingerprint and facial scan check system for non-EU citizens at any EU border.
It was due to be rolled out on November 10, but has been pushed back yet again after Germany, France and the Netherlands said their systems were not ready.
Meanwhile, sources have told the BBC that there has been no live testing of the EU’s software on the UK's border systems.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said there was not a new timetable for its implementation, but it would be phased in.
"It's clear that we're not going to be ready for the 10 November," said Ms Johansson, adding: "We will be going for a phased approach, step by step."
This delay is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the system, which was originally meant to be introduced in 2022.
The Entry Exit System (EES) will mean non-EU citizens, including people from the UK, need to register biometric data at any EU border to get in rather than stamping passports.
The idea is to make a digital record linking passports to biometric data. Passengers will be given handheld devices, so they can register their details in their cars.
The EES will apply to road borders, airports, ports, train stations - including Eurostar services - and all other external EU borders.
The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council will meet next week to discuss the rollout of the EES.
A spokesperson for the German interior ministry told the Reuters news agency the three countries were not ready to bring in the system because the EU agency in charge of it, EU-Lisa, had not yet made it stable enough.
The French interior ministry told Reuters EES must be prepared properly.
Earlier this month, a European Commission spokesperson said that "the implementation of a system like EES is a complex operation and delays cannot be completely excluded".
The checking system was originally due to start operating in 2022 but has faced a series of delays.
It was rescheduled for May 2023, and then the end of 2023, before a date was set for November 2024.
Latest Stories
-
“It keeps me awake at night” – UniMAC VC reveals struggle to unite three institutions under one university
25 minutes -
Photos: Vice President joins nationwide clean-up exercise
28 minutes -
Ghana’s real sporting crisis lies beyond the pitch
34 minutes -
Healthy food is a business investment, not a lifestyle choice — Mövenpick GM
45 minutes -
Mahama urges Ghanaians to sustain clean-up exercise as he calls for community involvement
46 minutes -
Okyenhene urges universities to train innovators and job creators at Garden City University investiture
50 minutes -
UniMAC Vice Chancellor warns Ghana needs AI investment to secure future of media industry
1 hour -
Health Ministry supports Mövenpick Green Stay Initiative to promote healthy workplace nutrition
1 hour -
Weija Children’s Hospital contractor arrested over alleged procurement irregularities – Gov’t
2 hours -
Health Ministry says Weija Children’s Hospital handover was focus of meeting with contractor
2 hours -
Gov’t to enforce sanitation by-laws, demolish structures on waterways – Felix Kwakye Ofosu
2 hours -
PIAC warns global energy transition policies adoption could threaten Ghana’s petroleum industry
3 hours -
Ga South Assembly identifies 1,200 illegal structures for demolition to curb flooding
3 hours -
Military personnel allegedly seize 15 excavators from Enchi Assembly yard despite court order
3 hours -
Gov’t general clean-up exercise will be sustained, not a one-off response – Felix Kwakye Ofosu
3 hours