The system's ability to interface with justice and home affairs databases will directly contribute to improving border management and internal security in Europe.

Thanks to the agreement we have reached, Member States will be able to implement a new border management system to record the entries of non-EU citizens into the Schengen area, along with their departures. This is good news – the new system will support our efforts aimed at ensuring the security of our borders

stated Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of the Interior and Administration, Coordinator of Special Services.

Bolstering security in the Schengen area

The Polish presidency in the Council of the European Union coincided with intensified efforts aimed at enabling the gradual launch of the EES system that was supported at every stage by Tomasz Szymański, the Government Plenipotentiary for the Implementation of EU Large-Scale IT Systems and Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

The involved parties managed to reach a compromise on the provisions of the regulation in record time. The Polish presidency played a key role as an effective mediator and leader of the process, ensuring smooth negotiations and consensus-building between Member States and EU institutions.

All suggestions were analysed, and high priority was assigned to refining the draft text of the regulation, which would address the needs of all Member States and contribute to the rapid deployment of the system.

Ensuring that the EES is operational as soon as possible is particularly important for the security of the Schengen area. The aim is to start the gradual launch of the EES by October 2025, a deadline selected by ministers at the JHA Council in March

said Deputy Minister Tomasz Szymański.

The Entry/Exit System

On 19 May 2025, the last informal meeting of representatives of the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission took place. The compromise concerning the existing points of contention will allow the parties to proceed with further steps to ensure a successful launch of the system by fall 2025.

Participants in the process (EU institutions and Member States) acknowledged the efforts of the Polish presidency in the Council of the European Union which enabled working out a compromise regulation on the gradual launch of the Entry/Exit system in a shorter timeframe than initially envisioned.

In Poland, the Government Plenipotentiary for the Implementation of EU Large-Scale IT Systems coordinates the works concerning the implementation of EU large-scale IT systems. He is responsible for monitoring the activities at the national level through the Interministerial Team for EU Large-Scale IT Systems, cooperation with the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the EU and with the Management Board of eu-LISA. The activities of the Plenipotentiary and the involvement of Polish authorities and institutions in the work on the EES system are directly in line with the motto of the Polish presidency in the Council of the EU: 'Security, Europe!'

Project assumptions

The proposal does not amend existing legislation previously agreed to by the European Parliament (the EES Regulation and the Schengen Border Code). Instead, it envisages a temporary derogation from certain articles of existing acts, allowing the Member States to gradually implement the EES system over a period of 180 days. This derogation is necessary due to the fact that the existing EES Regulation obliges all Member States to launch the EES in its entirety, at the same time, at all border crossing points, and does not provide any exceptions. This so-called 'big bang' approach is no longer seen as the best option, as opposed to a phased roll-out, which gives the Member States the flexibility they need to start using the EES according to their level of readiness, which makes it easier for them to make technical and operational adjustments when launching the system.

After 180 days, all Member States must fully deploy the EES at border crossing points for travellers subject to the EES Regulation. As far as the Schengen Border Code is concerned, the derogation concerns articles relevant to the functioning of the EES, such as the entry conditions linked to biometric data and the fact that the Border Guard will continue to stamp passports within the 180-day launch period.

In order for the system to be launched in October 2025, the regulation enabling the gradual roll-out of the EES must be adopted before August 2025. The tentative timetable for negotiations foresees the adoption of the regulation by the Council in mid-July 2025.

 

Photos: Chancellery of the Prime Minister/PAP S.A.