Answer given by Ms Johansson on behalf of the European Commission

21.1.2022

1. According to Article 37 of Regulation 2017/2226 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES), the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice[1] (eu-LISA) is responsible for the development of the Entry/Exit central system. The Commission has therefore asked eu-LISA to answer to the question of the Honourable Member. The reply of eu-LISA will be sent to the Honourable Member as soon as possible.

2. The Justice and Home Affairs Council on 9 December 2021 endorsed: (i) June 2022 as the date of entry into operation of the new functions of the Schengen Information System (SIS); (ii) the end of September 2022 as the new date for the entry into operations of Entry/Exit System; and (iii) May 2023 as the new date for the entry into operation of European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The European Commission supports the revised timeline.

3. According to Article 38 of the regulation (EU) 2017/2226 establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) , it is the responsibility of the Member States to organise, manage, operate and maintain their existing border infrastructure to ensure the proper functioning of the Entry/Exit System. This will include necessary biometric technology. The Commission does not have estimates of costs incurred by the Member States in this respect.

See annexes : Annex 1, Annex 2

• [1] OJ L 327, 9.12.2017, p. 20