Portugal and Italy will not suspend digital border checks for Brits

Portugal and Italy will not grant British nationals an exemption from the EU's new digital border checks, the European Commission has confirmed [1]. This follows Greece's suspension of the biometric system for UK travelers to prevent summer disruptions [1]. The Commission stated that Portuguese and Italian authorities confirmed they "do not intend to exempt any nationality" from the Entry-Exit System (EES) [1]. The EES, which became fully operational in April, requires most short-term visitors from outside the EU and European Economic Area to register fingerprints and facial scans each time they enter or leave the Schengen zone [1]. While the Commission insists the system has mainly worked well, widespread reports detail UK travelers facing very long delays, with some missing flights [1]. For instance, over 100 people missed an EasyJet flight from Milan to Manchester last month due to "unacceptable" passport queues [1]. In response to such disruptions, Greece has effectively suspended biometric checks for British citizens at its borders, a move the Commission is seeking to clarify, noting rules allow only temporary suspensions at specific crossings in exceptional circumstances, not blanket exemptions [1]. The border system changes coincide with airlines globally cutting 13,000 flights for May, equivalent to 1% of flights, amid high fuel costs and supply concerns [1]. Travelers have been advised not to alter plans, as no fuel shortage currently exists in the UK [1].