Credit: European Union
On Thursday 9 October 2025, the Luxembourg Ministry for Home Affairs announced the beginning of the deployment of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) at Luxembourg Airport.
The European Commission has set Sunday 12 October 2025 as the date for the entry into operation of the EU’s external borders Entry/Exit System. The system will be deployed in several phases until 9 April 2026. It will gradually replace the current system of stamping passports.
The ministry described the EES as “an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of third-country nationals travelling, for short stays, to one of the 29 European countries using the system” and remarked that its implementation at Findel Airport illustrated the excellent collaboration between the Grand Ducal Police and Lux-Airport.
According to the ministry, the introduction of the EES will “modernise and improve the management of the EU’s external borders” and will provide “reliable data on border crossings, systematically identify individuals who have overstayed their authorised period, and detect cases of identity fraud”. It noted that the EES will help to prevent irregular migration and ensure the safety of all within the Schengen area. Moreover, with increased use of automated checks at external borders, travel will eventually become smoother and safer for everyone.
The ministry stressed that the new system “adheres to the highest standards of data protection and privacy, ensuring that travellers’ personal data remains protected and secure”.
“With the launch of the EES, the EU takes an important step towards achieving its goal of a safer and more efficient border management system,” said Luxembourg Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden. “Luxembourg has always advocated for strengthening the external borders of the Schengen area rather than imposing internal border controls,” he added.
Further information about the EES can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees/what-is-the-ees##
