Transport Secretary engages with EU commissioner on EES border checks ahead of summer holidays

Transport Secretary engages with EU commissioner on EES border checks ahead of summer holidays
Government is working with the EU to ensure travel across the border is as seamless as possible in summer and through autumn.
- Transport Secretary and EU commissioner agree to work together with aim for smoothest possible EES checks ahead of the busy summer period
- £20 million of new government funding has been announced for Kent to help reduce queues – boosting infrastructure and minimising disruption
- builds on existing departmental support for measures designed to prioritise the safety and welfare of passengers
The Transport Secretary spoke yesterday (13 July 2026) with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism about supporting holidaymakers through the EU’s enhanced security checks during the summer holidays.
During a productive meeting, Heidi Alexander and EU commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, discussed the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). The Transport Secretary raised concerns over travellers looking to get away and the two counterparts agreed to work together constructively to ensure travel across the border is as seamless as possible in the summer and through the autumn.
The meeting comes after the government announced £20 million of funding to increase the number of booths for passport checks at the Port of Dover, on top of £10.5 million already invested at Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar to prevent disruption. This £20 million in support will also help increase capacity for processing vehicles, reducing wait times and easing congestion in future years.
Industry partners have also welcomed the Transport Secretary’s engagement, support and personal interest in their work to prepare for the peak period. Doug Bannister, CEO at the Port of Dover, said he was ‘really grateful for all the support’ from government.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
We want everyone to have the summer holidays they deserve – and yesterday’s meeting shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.
I was reassured that the EU commissioner for transport understood the concerns of holidaymakers and recognised the need for us to work together to make sure journeys are as seamless as possible during the busiest travel period of the year.
EES – a requirement for all non-EU passengers entering and exiting Schengen countries – was first introduced in phases in October 2025. Since April, passengers should be registered at the border by scanning their passport, plus having their photo and fingerprints taken.
The majority of these checks will be done in EU member states, but will take place in the UK for those using the ferry through the Port of Dover or taking the train into the EU and have been put in place to boost border security.
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