Dover Faces Summer Chaos as EU Entry/Exit System Delays Persist

The Port of Dover, UK’s busiest EU crossing, will not have Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric kiosks operational for July-August peak. Without French checks, cars must undergo manual processing, raising the risk of five-hour queues for millions of travellers.

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EES is an EU border scheme requiring all third-country nationals, including UK citizens, to submit fingerprint and photo data. System entered force on 10 April, but staffing problems have delayed French-controlled kiosks that process vehicles on UK side.

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Key parties are Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister, France’s Police Aux Frontières, UK Government, and Kent County Council Liberal Democrat leaders Antony Hook and Mike Sole. The Sevington site, a hub 20 miles inland, is proposed as an alternative point.

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Bannister said Dover’s infrastructure is ready but French activation remains beyond control. Spokesperson said EU scheme is a shift for travellers and priority is minimise disruption and coordinate with French authorities. French Police Aux Frontières declined comment.

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Antony Hook warned of “huge queues – longer than what we saw in May,” calling it a disaster, while Mike Sole called delay “miserable and terrible for holidaymakers” and urged diverting cars to Sevington, a motion Labour ignored.

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Residents near Dover called traffic “hideous,” with family trapped for five and a half hours during May bank holiday. EES checks, suspended after jam, leave drivers waiting while police open files, raising safety concerns in summer heat.

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The port projected kiosk activation for October 2025, later hoping for an April rollout with EES enforcement, yet French authorities have not given a date. Status of manual checks and timeline for using Sevington remain unclear.

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• “However, the activation of the kiosks by the French authorities is outside our direct control and as we approach the summer there is no date yet for that to happen.” — Doug Bannister, Port of Dover CEO

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• “I fear huge queues – even longer than what we saw in May, given that it’s busier in summer holidays,” — Antony Hook, Liberal Democrat leader, Kent County Council

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• “The failure to get the technology ready for the summer was “miserable and terrible for holidaymakers,” said Mike Sole, a fellow Lib Dem councillor in Kent.” — Mike Sole, Liberal Democrat councillor, Kent County Council

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If French activation remains pending, summer traffic through Dover is likely to stay congested, prompting local authorities to press for diversions to Sevington. Ongoing UK-France coordination will be essential to avoid prolonged disruption for holidaymakers and freight.

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