Greece Suspends Biometric Border Checks for UK Tourists, Citing Congestion

Greece will not impose biometric border checks on British holidaymakers, even during peak summer travel, according to Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. She stated that the government aims to prevent visitors from being burdened by bureaucratic procedures when entering or leaving the country, ensuring frontier checks take “less than a couple of minutes”.

This policy means British visitors will not face the full requirements of the EU's new digital border procedure, the Entry-Exit System (EES). The EES, introduced in April, mandates that short-term visitors from outside the EU and European Economic Area register biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, upon entry to and exit from the Schengen free travel zone. The system has led to significant delays in other EU nations, with reports of three-hour queues and passengers missing flights, notably from Milan airports.

Greek Exemptions and EU Scrutiny

Greece had already suspended biometric checks on UK visitors in early April following extensive queues at Corfu airport. While EU rules permit brief EES check suspensions during airport congestion, they prohibit blanket exemptions for specific nationalities. Kefalogianni insists Greece is not offering an exemption but rather facilitating the procedure to avoid burdening visitors. However, the European Commission has confirmed it is in contact with Greece to “clarify the situation and recall the existing rules”. Portugal and Italy, initially rumoured to follow Greece’s lead, have reportedly opted against exempting British nationals.

Jet Fuel Supply Concerns

Kefalogianni also acknowledged that reports of potential jet fuel shortages, stemming from the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, have made tourists more hesitant to travel. Europe, heavily reliant on Gulf region imports, has seen supplies diminish. Despite these concerns, Greece maintains its tourism offering remains competitive. The UK government, for its part, has advised British holidaymakers that there is no immediate need to alter travel plans due to jet fuel supply worries, citing contingency measures.