New EU border rules which would force British tourists to submit fingerprints and facial biometrics have been postponed indefinitely. The Telegraph has more.
Brussels will now investigate the possibility of a new approach, which would involve phasing in the system gradually over time. The rules had been due to come into force on November 10.
It is the third time it has been postponed, but this time no new deadline has been set.
The European Commission said the deadline for the Entry/Exit System (EES) would be delayed a month before it was due to come into force after a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday.
Germany, France and the Netherlands had said they were not ready to roll out the new electronic replacement for wet-stamping the passports of non-EU citizens entering the Schengen Zone.
Ylva Johansson, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, said there were “some concerns when it comes to the resilience of the system”.
The three countries are responsible for 40% of all inward traffic in to the EU and have faced IT difficulties.
There have also been warnings that the EES will lead to long queues when first introduced because of the need to submit the biometric data.
The latest delay comes just days after Spain warned the U.K. the new rules would mean a hard border with Gibraltar and urged London to cave to its demands over a post-Brexit deal making the Rock part of Schengen.
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