During the visit, Commissioner Johansson held a meeting with the newly appointed Deputy Executive Director of eu-LISA, Marili Männik, and the Head of the Security Unit, Luca Zampaglione, followed by a meeting with the staff of eu-LISA in a hybrid format. Commissioner Johansson was accompanied by Åsa Webber, Head of the Commissioner’s Cabinet, Marc Sulon, Head of the Digital Schengen Unit at the European Commission, and Mathias Juust from the European Commission Representation in Estonia.
The discussions focused on the Agency’s main achievements and ongoing work at operational level as well as important organisational changes, in particular in view of the forthcoming launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which has now been officially announced to enter into operation on 10 November 2024. Furthermore, the Commissioner elaborated on the objectives and added value of Eurodac in the better management of asylum procedures and improved protection of the rights of children. With a view to the future, the Commissioner highlighted the growing importance of security in the EU agenda, which is likely to have an impact also on eu-LISA.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a major milestone in the European Union’s efforts to enhance border security while preserving the openness and mobility that define the region. By systematically recording the entry and exit data of non-EU nationals, the EES provides a more robust mechanism for border control and helps monitor overstayers across Europe. The data will also strengthen the EU’s visa policy and provide clearer insights into migration patterns, helping in the fight against irregular migration.
Developed under the leadership of eu-LISA, the EES has undergone extensive testing and stakeholder consultation to ensure that it meets the highest standards of data protection and operational efficiency. eu-LISA has worked closely with Member States to prepare the system for its launch, providing training and support to ensure a seamless roll-out across the Union.
At the end of the visit, Commissioner Johansson thanked eu-LISA for its dedication to enhancing border management across the Schengen area, expressed her confidence in the continued close cooperation between the European Commission and eu-LISA, and underlined the importance of maintaining robust and secure IT systems that support the EU’s wider objectives of security, safety and mobility.
“The moment is finally there. There may have been times you believed it will never happen, but it’s going to happen. Everything is coming together. We’re in the final testing phase. There is real momentum now. Carriers, operators, train stations, airports, everyone is getting ready for the big day,” stated Commissioner
The EES aims to bolster security and identify individuals who overstay their permitted duration in the Schengen Area, which is limited to 90 days within a 180-day period. It will apply to all EU member states, except Cyprus and Ireland, and includes four non-EU Schengen countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
- Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national
- Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen
- Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing
- Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas
- Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See
- People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, cross-border workers, etc.)
- People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours
- People holding a valid local border traffic permit
- Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys
- People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State
