‘It's a mess!’ Simon Calder reports from Dover as travel chaos erupts over new EU digital border scheme

Simon Calder has been on the scene at Dover, where lorries and holidaymakers are stuck in huge queues attempting to cross the English Channel.

The travel expert said the four-and-a-half-hour delays were due to “French IT problems” related to the rollout of the European Union’s new border entry and exit scheme.

“First contact with the entry exit system at the first peak getaway since the rollout was sort of completed,” he said under the blazing sun.

“It's not going particularly well.

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“So it's a mess. The entire travel industry, from the Port of Dover to Michael O'Leary, the boss of Ryanair, is demanding that the system be relaxed.

“Speaking to the police here, while you might be seeing the trucks actually seem to be moving faster than the motorists and families heading away.

“That's because they've already been queuing about four or five miles back along the A20. So it's a bit of a muddle."

Explaining the issues, Mr Calder said: “The entry-exit system is a new digital border scheme that was introduced by the European Union for all third-country nationals.

“It requires you to have your biometrics checked on the first crossing of a Schengen Area frontier.

“You should have your four right fingers on your right hand taken and a facial biometric on subsequent trips.“

"However, here at the Port of Dover, the checks are made before you get on a boat.

“Unfortunately, while there is a £40million system ready to go with all those kiosks that you've seen for motorists heading off on their half-term breaks due to French IT problems, it is not actually working yet.”

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“If you are heading for continental Europe, it is going to be a long wait,” Mr Calder warned.

“I'm sorry to say, but it's not a great picture.”

“It's easy to be a bit bemused by this, even to make light of this,” GB News Home and Security editor Mark White said.

“But actually, this is scandalous, isn't it? They've had years to prepare for this,” he added.

“The EU has postponed its introduction many times,” Mr Calder explained.

However, Brussels announced the new scheme would be ready in April.

He added: “Now, not everybody agrees. For instance, Greece says it's not going to bother with biometrics for British holidaymakers because we don't want them to have a tough old time.”

Amid major delays, the Port of Dover today said French authorities have suspended the new EU border checks to allow traffic to flow more smoothly.

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