French Delays Threaten Summer Travel Chaos at Dover’s £40m Border Site

The Port of Dover’s new £40 million border processing centre, built to handle new EU passport checks, is unlikely to open in time for the summer holidays due to French delays. Despite the facility being ready, French police have not activated the necessary EU computer kiosks, raising fears of significant queues.

This critical infrastructure, designed to manage the European Union’s ‘Entry/Exit System’ (EES) for non-EU citizens, stands idle. The inaction by French authorities means British holidaymakers face potential chaos at the UK’s busiest ferry port during peak travel season.

French Inaction Leaves £40 Million Facility Dormant

The Port of Dover has completed its state-of-the-art border processing centre, a £40 million investment built on reclaimed land. This facility includes space for 600 cars and 84 kiosks, designed for passengers to process fingerprints and photographs required by the EES.

However, the French border agency, the Police aux Frontieres, has not set a date to activate these essential kiosks. This leaves the port, which has done “absolutely everything” to prepare, at the mercy of foreign bureaucracy.

Port Chief Warns of “No Certain Outlook”

“We have done absolutely everything we can to prepare for the EU’s ‘Entry/Exit System’ or EES. There is no certain outlook for when the kiosks will become operational.”

— Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover

Mr Bannister’s stark admission highlights the uncertainty facing millions of British travellers. Despite working closely with both the UK and French governments, the crucial infrastructure remains unusable, threatening to undermine summer travel plans.

• French police have failed to activate EU computer kiosks at Dover’s new £40 million border facility.
• The Port of Dover’s CEO, Doug Bannister, confirmed the site is ready but French authorities have not set an activation date.
• This inaction raises the prospect of severe queues at Dover during the summer holidays, impacting thousands of British families.
• During May half-term, port operators were forced to suspend the EES system due to major queues with only partial profiles being processed.
• The EU will introduce another layer of bureaucracy in October with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), costing £17.25 for a three-year permit.

What This Means for Britain

This bureaucratic paralysis means your family holiday plans could be thrown into disarray, leading to hours of frustrating delays at the border. Imagine the stress of seeing a £40 million facility standing empty, while you and your children are stuck in queues, all because of French inaction.

The economic impact is clear: congestion around Dover, a vital trade artery, will cost businesses and individuals time and money. The prospect of 11,000 to 13,000 cars a day trying to pass through a system designed for 8,000, without the new facility, is a recipe for economic stagnation and lost productivity.

This pattern of external delays and bureaucratic hurdles highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Britain post-Brexit. It’s a stark reminder that promises of smooth transitions often clash with the realities of international relations and the slow pace of foreign administrations.

If this continues, British families will bear the brunt, facing travel chaos and wasted holidays. It’s time to demand accountability and ensure our borders run efficiently, protecting our precious summer breaks.

Share if you believe Britain deserves better than endless queues and foreign bureaucratic delays. Demand answers from your MP. This must be seen by every British voter.

Source: Daily Mail | Breaking Brexit News