The European Commission announced that more than 27,000 people have been denied entry into the European Union since the new Entry/Exit System (EES) came into force, replacing traditional passport stamps with digital biometric controls.

The system, which has become fully operational at all external borders of the Schengen zone, automatically records the entries and exits of third-country nationals. Instead of manual stamping, border services now use electronic verification with biometric data.

The European Commission identified three main reasons for entry refusals: exceeding the permitted stay of 90 days within a 180-day period, missing or incomplete biometric data required for verification, and security reasons related to individuals flagged as a risk in any member state.

The implementation of EES has already caused significant congestion at border crossings, particularly at entry points to Croatia from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where travelers waited for hours. Problems have also been observed at European airports, where airlines warned of the need for additional time to process passengers.

The Commission welcomed the full implementation of the system, emphasizing that every entry is transparent and legally established, and the system enables immediate detection of individuals who have overstayed their permitted period. Citizens traveling to the EU are advised to allow extra time at border crossings and to ensure their documents are complete and up to date.