13 Jul 2026

Transport Secretary engages with EU Commissioner on EES border checks ahead of summer holidays

Transport Secretary and EU commissioner agree to work together with aim for smoothest possible EES checks ahead of the busy summer period
£20 million of new government funding has been announced for Kent to help reduce queues - boosting infrastructure and minimising disruption
Builds on existing departmental support for measures designed to prioritise the safety and welfare of passengers

The Transport Secretary has today (Monday 13th July) spoken with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism about supporting holidaymakers through the EU’s enhanced security checks, during the summer holidays.

During a productive meeting, Heidi Alexander and EU commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas discussed the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). The Transport Secretary raised concerns over travellers looking to getaway and the two counterparts agreed to work together constructively to ensure travel across the border is as seamless as possible in the summer and through the autumn.

The meeting comes after the government announced £20m of funding to increase the number of booths for passport checks at Port of Dover, on top of £10.5m already invested at Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar to prevent disruption. This £20 million in support will also help increase capacity for processing vehicles, reducing wait times and easing congestion in future years.

Industry partners have also, this morning, welcomed the Transport Secretary's engagement, support and personal interest in their work to prepare for the peak period. Doug Bannister, CEO at the Port of Dover, said he was “really grateful for all the support” from government.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

“We want everyone to have the summer holidays they deserve – and today’s meeting shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.

“I was reassured that the EU commissioner for transport understood the concerns of holidaymakers and recognised the need for us to work together to make sure journeys are as seamless as possible during the busiest travel period of the year.”

EES – a requirement for all non-EU passengers entering and exiting Schengen countries – was first introduced in phases in October 2025. Since April, passengers should be registered at the border by scanning their passport, plus having their photo and fingerprints taken.

The majority of these checks will be done in EU Member States but take place in the UK for those using the ferry through the Port of Dover or taking the train into the EU and has been put in place to boost border security.

Contact Information

Jennie Ritchie
Press Officer
DfT
jennie.ritchie@dft.gov.uk

Notes to editors

The government previously announced £10.5 million in funding for the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar so that they have the right infrastructure in place to reduce waiting times caused by EES checks. The ports (Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar St Pancras) will get £3.5m each.
We have announced £20 million from the Levelling Up Grant awarded to Kent County Council to enable Port of Dover to start work on their Outward Bound Controls Project which will increase capacity at the border in future years. We expect all three parties to sign the Grant Funding Agreement for the £20m for Kent County Council and the Port of Dover shortly, when all governance processes have concluded.
As well as the support for holidaymakers the government is aware of the effects EES is having for freight and residents. That’s why the government is supporting the deployment of traffic marshals around Dover and at additional key locations, alongside providing additional passenger welfare sites on the M20 and A2.