EU states agree to roll out automated border system

BRUSSELS - European Union member states agreed Wednesday on a phased rollout of a new border check system for non-EU nationals which will do away with passport stamps.

The so-called Entry/Exit System (EES), was initially supposed to kick in last November but was delayed at the last minute as several states were not ready.

First agreed on in 2017, the automated system will record visitors' date of entry and exit and keep track of overstays and refused entries.

But its introduction has raised fears of queues and longer waiting times for people travelling to Europe on trains, ferries and planes. London's mayor Sadiq Khan warned last year it could trigger "chaos" at the British capital's Eurostar cross-Channel rail hub, St Pancras station.

Under the EU agreement reached Wednesday - subject to approval by the European Parliament - the scheme will be implemented over a six-month period.

"We are aiming for October" to begin the rollout, said Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

Member states would ramp up towards operating the EES system at half of border crossing points after three months and by six months countries should be registering all individuals using the system.

Under the EES, travelers to the bloc will have details and biometric data - facial images and fingerprints - collected at ports of entry.