Italy and Portugal follow Greece in scrapping new EU border checks after 'shambolic' rollout

Portugal and Italy are preparing to follow Greece in scrapping controversial EU border checks after its "shambolic" rollout.

The Balkan country has already suspended the Entry/Exit System (EES) requirements for UK visitors until September.

The decision came after the scheme's initial launch caused major queues and widespread delays for disgruntled travellers.

The EES requires all non-EU citizens to provide biometric information when entering the Schengen zone, including facial scans and fingerprints upon arrival.

But the system's introduction has been plagued by malfunctioning technology and insufficient staffing levels, leading to critics describing the trial period as "chaotic".

Portugal has already begun allowing passengers through without biometric checks when queues become excessive.

Italy is expected to adopt Greece's approach before the May half-term, permitting British tourists entry with just a passport stamp.

Spain, France and Croatia could also follow in fellow member states' footsteps and ditch the requirements.

However, industry insiders have warned the border check abandonment could cause the entire EES to quickly disintegrate.

The system was launched across Schengen countries last month, covering 25 of the 27 EU member states alongside Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

But, now, travel gurus have called on European nations to defy Brussels in a desperate bid to save their tourism industries.

Seamus McCauley, of travel company Holiday Extras, told the Daily Mail: "Countries are not going to sit back and let Greece take their trade because they won't face EES delays at airports."

TRAVEL MAYHEM - READ THE LATEST:

• EasyJet flight descends into 'Wild West' chaos as 'drunken riots' force plane 650 miles off course
• Gibraltar’s chief tells Britain to rejoin EU and claims Brexit voters were ‘led down garden path’
• British holidaymakers to face fresh EU red tape chaos as Brussels wages war on pet owners

He added: "To do so would be politically toxic as jobs are on the line."

Mr McCauley described the implementation as "an utter fiasco", citing that British tourists contribute £3billion annually to Greece's economy.

The industry expert said it "seems certain" Portugal and Italy will follow Greece's suspension.

Such a united affront to the status quo would render Brussels powerless to respond effectively, Mr McCauley claimed.

Any financial penalties imposed would likely be far smaller than the tourism revenue countries would lose from continued chaos, he forecast.

Leading airline Ryanair has joined calls for popular European destinations to halt the EES.

Neil McMahon, the airline's chief executive officer, said: "Governments are attempting to roll out a half-baked IT system in the middle of the busiest travel season."

"Passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure hours-long passport control queues and in some cases missing flights.

"The solution is simple: Governments should suspend EES until September."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter