The European Union has confirmed it will not suspend the Entry/Exit System (EES) this summer, even as officials acknowledge 20 problem areas and significant delays at border crossings. If your organization has employees traveling to or through Europe in the coming months, this is not the time to assume a smooth arrival experience.

What This Means for Business Travel

The EES is a new EU border management system that digitally records the entry and exit of non-EU travelers, replacing manual passport stamping. It was designed to strengthen border security, but its rollout has been far from smooth. With peak summer travel already putting pressure on airports and border checkpoints, the EU’s decision to push forward despite known bottlenecks means delays are likely, not just possible.

For corporate travel programs, this creates a real planning challenge. Travelers who are tight on time between flights, attending critical morning meetings, or connecting onward to non-Schengen destinations could be caught off guard by border queues that run significantly longer than expected. Business travel budgets built on efficient itineraries may need some rethinking for Europe-bound trips this season.

Travel Coordination Take

  1. Build in extra buffer time at European entry points. Add at least 30 to 60 extra minutes to any itinerary involving a first point of entry into the Schengen Zone. This is especially important at airports flagged as high-traffic or operationally stressed.
  2. Brief travelers before they go. Many employees won’t know what EES is or why border processing might take longer. A short pre-trip heads-up (in your travel policy communications or a quick email) can prevent frustration and missed connections.
  3. Avoid tight connection windows. When booking itineraries that involve an initial Schengen entry followed by a connecting flight, give travelers more connection time than usual. A standard one-hour layover may not be enough right now.
  4. Monitor the 20 identified problem spots. Keep an eye on updates from EU border authorities and your travel management company about which airports and crossings are experiencing the worst delays. Adjust routing where possible.
  5. Check your duty of care protocols. If a traveler misses a connection or faces an unexpected overnight stay due to EES delays, make sure your emergency support and rebooking procedures are clearly communicated and ready to activate.

Key Takeaway

The EU isn’t backing down on EES, and that means European border delays are a real risk for business travelers this summer. The coordinators who act now (adjusting itineraries, briefing travelers, and tightening contingency plans) will be the ones who keep their executives on schedule and their travel programs running smoothly.