Full implementation of EES at EU borders begins on Friday – “Go to the airport early when returning to Serbia”

On Friday, April 10, the full implementation of the EES at the borders of the European Union begins. After a partial implementation that has been ongoing since last October, travelers can now expect stricter identification rules, as well as potential delays at crossings that are traditionally the busiest during the holidays and summer season.

The Director of the National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia, Aleksandar Senicic, told RTS that travelers should adjust their travel plans, especially when returning from the European Union, which means arriving at the airport earlier than has been the case so far.

Aleksandar Senicic said that one of the most common concerns of citizens was related to departure from domestic airports, but he stressed that there would be no changes in this area.

– The EES system refers to entry into European Union countries. There is no reason for us to arrive at our airport much earlier than it has been so far – Senicic emphasized.

All the new measures from April 10 relate to controls at entry into EU countries, where passengers will be registered, biometric data will be taken and stay in an EU country will be checked in more detail. This is where the biggest delays are expected, especially on days of increased traffic, Senicic points out.

According to him, passengers will have to adjust their plans, especially when returning from the European Union.

– When we are returning from European Union countries, we have to plan to arrive at the airport a little earlier than usual, a couple of hours, an hour and a half earlier than we usually did before, in order to complete the procedure on leaving the European Union countries on time – Senicic told RTS.

Given the expected increase in the number of passengers, especially during the holidays and summer months, the question arises of how the system will function in practice and whether it will lead to a collapse at border crossings.

Senicic states that some European Union member states have also expressed concern about possible crowding.

– The European Union has decided that local authorities can at a certain point, if they notice a collapse or a large crowd at the borders, make a decision to suspend this system for a certain period of time – said Aleksandar Senicic.

He explains that in such situations, travelers could proceed according to the old rules.

The introduction of the EES is already having an impact on tourist flows and Senicic emphasizes that there is a decline in interest in traveling to European Union countries.

– Of course, this system leads to the fact that some travelers do not want to even think about traveling to the European Union precisely because of the long waits at border crossings – Senicic pointed out for RTS.

PU YUTA Beograd

National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia

Aleksandar Seničić

EES