site.btaEuropean Entry/Exit System Being Gradually Introduced at Bulgaria's Border Checkpoints
The European Entry/Exit System (EES) is in effect across the Schengen area, including in Bulgaria where it is being gradually introduced at border control checkpoints, outgoing Interior Minister Daniel Mitov told a news briefing here Thursday. He explained that non-EU nationals will be registered through the EES at border crossings, and the EES will monitor when they exit the country, since they are allowed to stay in Schengen only for a specific length of time.
The EES collects the biographic and biometric data (photo and fingerprints) of third-country nationals upon their first visit to Schengen for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. Subsequent entries in the border-free area require only a biometric face check.
Taking a BTA reporter's question, Mitov said there is no risk of a data leak, because the EES is not connected to the Internet. The data are kept in compliance with the laws of the corresponding countries and the EU.
The Border Police head, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, said that only third-country nationals will be registered by having their fingerprints and other biometric data taken upon their first entry in Schengen. That will increase the overall European security, he explained. Currently, both software and hardware problems in the EES are being fixed across Europe, which is expected and normal. Therefore, the instructions are to start by filling in only 10% of the entries by third-country nationals and gradually move to 100% during the summer, Zlatanov said.
He noted that Bulgaria is on the route of many citizens of Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands who travel to their homeland Turkiye and back in the summer. Those of them who are crossing the Schengen border for the first time will create queues and backlogs, but hopefully the problem will be solved by then, Zlatanov added.
The EES began being using by EU Member States on October 12, 2025.
/MR/
Additional
news.modal.image.header
news.modal.image.text
news.modal.download.header
news.modal.download.text
news.modal.header
news.modal.text