- Transport Secretary and EU commissioner agree to
work together with aim for smoothest
possible EES checks ahead of the busy summer period
- £20 million of new government funding has been announced for
Kent to help reduce queues - boosting infrastructure and
minimising disruption
- Builds on existing departmental support for measures designed
to prioritise the safety and welfare of passengers
The Transport Secretary has today (Monday 13th July) spoken with
the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and
Tourism about supporting holidaymakers through the EU's
enhanced security checks, during the summer holidays.
During a productive meeting, and EU commissioner
Apostolos Tzitzikostas discussed the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
The Transport Secretary raised concerns over travellers looking
to getaway and the two counterparts agreed to work together
constructively to ensure travel across the border is as seamless
as possible in the summer and through the autumn.
The meeting comes after the government announced £20m of funding
to increase the number of booths for passport checks at Port of
Dover, on top of £10.5m already invested at Dover, Eurotunnel and
Eurostar to prevent disruption. This £20 million in support will
also help increase capacity for processing vehicles, reducing
wait times and easing congestion in future years.
Industry partners have also, this morning, welcomed the Transport
Secretary's engagement, support and personal interest in their
work to prepare for the peak period. Doug Bannister, CEO at the
Port of Dover, said he was really grateful for all the support
from government.
Transport Secretary said:
We want everyone to have the summer holidays they deserve and
today's meeting shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.
I was reassured that the EU commissioner for
transport understood the concerns of holidaymakers and
recognised the need for us to work together to make sure journeys
are as seamless as possible during the busiest travel period of
the year.
EES a requirement for all non-EU passengers entering and
exiting Schengen countries was first introduced in phases in
October 2025. Since April, passengers should be registered at the
border by scanning their passport, plus having their photo and
fingerprints taken.
The majority of these checks will be done in EU Member States but
take place in the UK for those using the ferry through the Port
of Dover or taking the train into the EU and has been put in
place to boost border security.
Notes to editors
- The government previously announced £10.5 million in funding
for the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar so that they have
the right infrastructure in place to reduce waiting times caused
by EES checks. The ports (Port of
Dover,Eurotunneland Eurostar St Pancras) will get £3.5m each.
- We have announced £20 million from the Levelling Up Grant
awarded to Kent County Council to enable Port of Dover to start
work on their Outward Bound Controls Project which will
increase capacity at the border in future years. We expect
all three parties to sign the Grant Funding Agreement for the
£20m for Kent County Council and the Port of Dover shortly, when
all governance processes have concluded.
- As well as the support for holidaymakers the government is
aware of the effects EES is having for freight and
residents. That's why the government is supporting the deployment
of traffic marshals around Dover and at additional key locations,
alongside providing additional passenger welfare sites on the M20
and A2.
