DOVER — Members of Parliament warned that cross-Channel ferry passengers and the Port of Dover face "utter chaos and miles of tailbacks" under the EU's entry/exit system (EES) unless the technology is fixed or checks are suspended by next week. Karen Bradley, chair of the home affairs select committee, urged the UK government to "apply maximum pressure" on French authorities to act on the EES before peak holiday traffic arrives at the port.

The Port of Dover expects traffic to peak from Friday 17 July. EES checks at the start of the May half-term holiday led to four and a half hours of delays. The port expects almost 50% more vehicles to travel through it this summer.

Members of Parliament visited Dover last week to observe changes to the port's layout, including the installation of 84 automatic kiosks for EES. These kiosks cannot be used due to problems with the technology supplied by France. The £40m biometric kiosk facility meant for car travellers remains closed due to these technology and software delays.

Bradley said: "We saw for ourselves that there is going to be utter chaos next week unless the French authorities step up. And the people who will suffer are British holidaymakers and firms attempting to transport goods." She added: "The Home Office must apply maximum pressure right now to either get this up and running or suspend the checks, otherwise there will be miles of tailbacks."

Doug Bannister, the port's chief executive, wrote to the business and trade committee last week to warn of the impact on local towns, transport, freight, and trade if EES problems were not resolved. Bannister said Dover could not use its facility because of "the inoperability of the EES kiosk technology, which is completely beyond the control of the port." He warned: "Without greater flexibility in how EES is operated during periods of exceptional demand, we will face repeated episodes of severe congestion throughout the summer holiday period." Bannister stated that both Dover and Folkestone would be severely affected by the congestion.

The EES was launched last October after years of delays. The system includes the ability for border police to temporarily suspend it if deemed necessary to process all travellers. This discretionary power will only last until September.

Why It Matters

The potential for severe congestion at the Port of Dover impacts cross-Channel travel for UK holidaymakers and freight operations during the peak summer period. The inoperability of the EU's Entry/Exit System kiosks at the port, due to technological issues with French authorities, threatens to replicate delays experienced during the May half-term holiday. With almost 50% more vehicles expected this summer, unresolved issues could lead to widespread disruption.