The EU Entry / Exit System - coming Autumn 2024

At the Folkestone & Hythe District Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 23 April 2024 (18:00hrs in the Council Chamber) there will be an item for discussion on the EU Entry / Exit System (ESS).

Officers from Kent County Council will be in attendance to provide members with a presentation (as below), and guests have also been invited from Eurotunnel, Dover Harbour Board, and Dover District Council.

Meetings of the Folkestone & Hyhe Overview and Scrutiny Committee are public, and can be attended in person and watched online at https://folkestone-hythe.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

The item is being discussed as the impact of EES on Folkestone and Hythe could be really significant. Dover TAP and Operation Brock could potentially become more permanent features, rather only being deployed than at peak times. 

• EES is currently scheduled to be implemented in the Autumn of 2024, probably October 6th. 
• Prior to a first crossing, all third-country nationals must register for the system, which includes providing biometric data such as a facial photograph and fingerprint identification. 
• Under current plans, the registration must happen at the portal and must be supervised by officers from Police aux Frontières (PaF) at Dover or Eurotunnel.
• The impact of EES on Kent is expected to be far greater than what was forecast for the exit from the EU. EU Exit planning was focussed on delays to freight whereas the impact of EES will be an impact on travellers to the EU, as well as freight.

Scrutiny will take an update on the planning for EES, the potential impact on Folkestone & Hythe and the wider area, what mitigations are in place and how disruption to local residents can be minimised.