The European Union's digital border security system, designed to track non-EU citizens, faces delays at the Channel Tunnel. Getlink, the operator, warned on Thursday that the biometric phase of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) for car passengers could be delayed beyond its September 6 due date. Software issues are the primary concern, highlighting the technical fragility of Fortress Europe's expanding digital walls.
Chief Executive Yann Leriche stated that the biometric component of the EES had not yet been implemented for passenger vehicles. He warned that the software provided at the European level was not yet fully stable, raising questions about the efficacy and readiness of this vast surveillance project.
The new EU system became fully operational across the Schengen area in April, a significant expansion of the border regime. It has already sparked concerns among airline groups and British authorities over potential travel disruption during peak holiday periods, though the deeper implications for human mobility are often overlooked.
Leriche acknowledged difficulties, stating, "I'm not going to tell you that we aren't experiencing any difficulties at all, because there's one issue that affects us all and for which there is no obvious immediate solution: the software provided by the European Union." This admission underscores the systemic challenges inherent in constructing such an extensive control mechanism.
The Cost of Control
Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel under a concession running until 2086, has invested a substantial €80 million to prepare its terminals for the Entry/Exit System. This investment funnels public and private funds into infrastructure that reinforces exclusion, rather than facilitating open movement.
Leriche claimed that queues at the tunnel have generally remained limited to one or two hours, contrasting with significantly longer delays reported in certain airports. However, the focus on tourist inconvenience often overshadows the system's true purpose: the criminalisation of movement for those deemed undesirable by the border regime.
He also noted, "All this bad press — especially from the British side, since 80% of our tourists are British — ultimately creates a negative impression, even though, in reality, the problems are largely manageable if we do our job." This framing prioritizes the experience of privileged travellers, obscuring the EES's role in a broader system of deterrence through digital means.
Profits Amidst Surveillance
Despite the technical hurdles and public scrutiny, the migration industry continues to demonstrate its profitability. The Paris-based company raised its full-year earnings guidance to a range of €835 million to €870 million, compared with €820 million to €860 million previously. This projection assumes only limited disruption from the new entry system's rollout, indicating that the business of border control remains lucrative.
Getlink also initiated proceedings over a revaluation of business rates by the British government, which tripled its annual tax bill. Leriche stated the company would give the UK's new government until the end of the summer to reconsider its position before launching the first stage of a formal legal challenge. Such disputes highlight the financial stakes involved in operating key chokepoints within the Fortress Europe apparatus.