European Union: Updates on Mobility-Related Legislation

As an update, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to be operational by the end of May 2023, previously estimated Q1-Q2 2022. The EES is a new EU database that would track entries and exits; information from travel documents; and fingerprints and photographs of all non-EU nationals staying in the Schengen area for less than 90 days. Additionally, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is scheduled to become fully effective by November 2023, previously estimated May 2023. Under ETIAS, visa-exempt nationals would be required to register online before travelling to the European Union, similar to the U.S. ESTA and Canadian eTA systems. The proposal to limit temporary border checks within the Schengen area is still undergoing legislative review, which could take several years.