Croatia Fully Prepared to Launch Entry/Exit System, Ministry Confirms

The Croatian authorities have confirmed that the country is fully prepared for the implementation of the EU’s new border system – the Entry/Exit System (EES).

According to the Ministry of Interior of Croatia, the new system has already been tested at all border crossings of the country, with the authorities ensuring that the country meets all technical requirements and procedural protocols that allow the full implementation of the new system, Schengen.News reports.

In addition to making such a statement, the Ministry revealed that police officers deployed at the country’s border have undergone thorough training on the use of the system.

During the training process, the police officers were trained on the technical and operational aspects of the system to make sure that there is a smooth registration process for foreign nationals crossing the border once the new system becomes effective.

The Ministry also commented on the decision of the EU Commission to introduce the new border system gradually, Sarajevo Times explains. According to the Croatian Ministry of Interior, the implementation of the system depends on the EU Commission. The same noted that a final timeline on the matter is yet to be formally announced.

Implementation of EES Expected by Late 2025, Croatian Ministry of Interior Said
While the EU Commission has yet to share the launch date of the EES following the last postponement, the Croatian Ministry of Interior confirmed that the new system is expected to become effective by late 2025.

The official website of the EU for the EES also confirmed that the system is due to start in 2025, but it did not say in which part of the year.

The EES is an automated system that will help the European Union monitor the movement of foreigners and replace manual passport stamping, among others.

As soon as the system gets launched, all foreign nationals, including those who are permitted visa-free entry to the Schengen Area, will have to undergo the registration process.

During this process, foreigners will have to provide personal information along with their facial images and fingerprints. The data will be stored in a safe database for a period of three years, meaning that travellers won’t have to worry about undergoing the procedure each time they enter the bloc.

The main aim of the new system is to register the entry and exit of non-EU nationals, prevent irregular migration, and detect overstays and individuals using fake identities, among other things.

Source: https://schengen.news/croatia-fully-prepared-to-launch-entry-exit-system-ministry-confirms/