We previously reported on the launch of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) in the European Union—a system for recording the entries and exits of third-country nationals at the EU’s external borders using biometrics.
📍 Current situation in Athens, Greece
Passport control at Athens Airport is currently proceeding as usual:
- Border control is operating as usual
- Passports are still stamped with an entry stamp (the flight was not from an EU country)
- Cameras and fingerprint scanners are indeed installed at border guard booths, but mass biometric data collection is not yet being conducted.
👉 Biometrics were not used for Ukrainian citizens staying in Greece under the Temporary Protection program.
Fingerprints were not taken, nor were photographs taken—passengers were allowed through with their documents, as before.
ℹ️ What is the EES and why is it being introduced?
The EES (Entry/Exit System) is being implemented based on Regulation (EU) No. 2017/2226 and will:
- replace passport stamps with digital entry and exit registration,
- automatically count days of stay according to the 90/180 rules,
- prevent visa violations and illegal stays,
- strengthen border security and data exchange between EU countries.
🗓 When will the system become fully operational?
According to eu-LISA and the European Commission, the EES implementation is being carried out in stages and will continue throughout 2025–2026. Technical preparations are currently underway in Schengen countries, including Greece.
✅ Currently:
Ukrainians with temporary protection are being processed under the previous rules
The system is not mandatory
Stamps are still being issued
Biometrics are being applied selectively