ETIAS won’t become operational in 2024, launch is delayed again

The European Union has once again pushed back the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), as confirmed by EU sources. Despite previous assertions that it would be operational by mid-2024, an EU official has revealed that the rollout date has now been postponed to May 2025.

An EU official stated, "We had initially hoped for the EES to become operational by the end of this year or, at the latest, the beginning of the next year. Due to unforeseen delays, it has become evident that this timeline is unattainable. As a result, the implementation of the ETIAS has been rescheduled to May 2025, with the possibility of further postponement."

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is another critical EU border security system, an automated IT system designed to record third-country travellers each time they cross an EU external border. The launch of both systems has faced persistent delays, and the official emphasized their interdependence, stating, "Both systems are deeply linked. Though the Entry/Exit can function properly without the ETIAS, it is impossible for the latter to become operational without the EES."

Anitta Hipper, the EU Commission's Spokesperson for Home Affairs, Migration, and Internal Security, had previously underlined that ETIAS could not become effective without the EES.

The postponement of ETIAS has also received confirmation from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which announced that its launch is scheduled for 2025, without specifying a more precise timeframe.

Meanwhile, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration has indicated that the scheme is unlikely to become operational before May 2025, leaving open the possibility of further delays.

The EU Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has refrained from providing a specific date for ETIAS implementation. The EES implementation date remains set for 2024, with the eu-LISA expected to announce an exact date in the coming months, likely before the year's end.

In July, the Belgian delegation to the Working Party on Frontiers and Mixed Committee proposed, via a non-paper, the separation of ETIAS from other databases to expedite its effectiveness by May 2024. However, no progress has been made on this proposal thus far.