French border police (Police Aux Frontières, PAF) temporarily suspended additional EU border checks at the port of Dover on Saturday. According to the Guardian, travelers reported wait times of more than two hours at the ferry terminal in Kent for the crossing to France.
The delays come a month after the full introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamps with digital registration. The port of Dover described Saturday as the first peak stress period since the new procedures. The situation was challenging, the port said on X.
The PAF responded positively and activated an exceptional clause (Article 9 of the EES regulation) allowing a temporary relaxation of checks. While conventional border controls continue, the PAF can significantly reduce processing time, it said. The port is working with the PAF to speed up processing and keep roads clear for local residents.
Temperatures of up to 29 degrees Celsius were expected in parts of England on Saturday. Images from Dover showed long queues of cars at the terminal, the departure point for ferries to Calais in northern France – a popular route for British tourists, especially at the start of the half-term holidays.
Source: www.theguardian.com
