Ministers are begging European countries to allow Britons to use e-gates before the summer holidays because the deal agreed with Brussels will not start soon enough.
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to European counterparts including Greece urging them to allow Brits to use e-gates ‘now’.
In a letter to Greece’s deputy foreign minister, he wrote: ‘It would be greatly appreciated if Greece could also offer access to e-gates where they are available at the border as soon as possible, including on a temporary basis now.’
Mr Thomas-Symonds added: ‘Being able to use e-gates at Greece’s airports would be a significant symbol of the friendship our two countries share.’
Announcing his reset with Brussels, Sir Keir Starmer said the move to allow British travellers to use European e-gates was one of the key elements of the deal.
The Government said there would not be any legal barriers to British travellers using more e-passport gates in EU countries.
The Prime Minster said: ‘This partnership helps British holidaymakers, who will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control.’
But the Association of British Travel Agents has said the deal ‘won’t impact this summer’.
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds (right) has written to European counterparts urging them to allow Brits to use e-gates ‘now’. Above, last week he and and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic (left) attended the EU-UK Summit
British tourists are expected to have to endure passport-stamping queues in most EU countries until at least October and possibly well into 2026
British tourists are expected to have to endure passport-stamping queues in most EU countries until at least October and possibly well into 2026 as the e-gates implementation will be phased.
So ministers have started asking the individual countries instead to allow early access to their e-gates.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: ‘The Prime Minister has lied to British public yet again.
‘His claim that he joyfully made on Monday that British tourists would benefit from his EU surrender agreement by getting through e-gates when they travel to Europe was just another blatant Starmer lie.
‘The facts are as follows: Europe has followed in Britain’s footsteps by developing an electronic entry and exit system and this has been under way for a number of years and is due to fully launch in October.
‘It is a fact that some airports already allow UK passport holders to use e-gates, and this new agreement doesn’t guarantee anything further.
‘Each EU country retains the right to decide individually, meaning there’s no certainty, no timeline, and no real improvement secured.’
