EU agency sues IBM-led consortium over Schengen border system delays
The European Union agency responsible for managing large-scale justice and security information systems has launched legal proceedings against a consortium of technology and defence companies over delays in delivering the bloc's new digital border control system.
EU-LISA, the agency overseeing the Entry/Exit System (EES), is taking action against a consortium comprising US technology giant IBM, French IT company Atos and Italian defence and security group Leonardo.
According to The Guardian, the legal action became public through EU-LISA's latest annual financial accounts, which revealed that the agency had activated contractual and legal measures to protect its financial interests following repeated delays in the system's delivery.
Lawsuit filed in Estonia
EU-LISA confirmed that proceedings were initiated on Dec. 22, 2025, before a court in Estonia, where the agency is headquartered.
In its financial report, the agency referred to delays in the delivery of the EES by the contractor consortium and said it had activated existing legal and contractual mechanisms.
EU-LISA declined to provide further details about the case, stressing that the proceedings concern the system's development phase and do not affect its current operation.
The agency also maintained that the EES continues to operate at full capacity.
Technical failures cause airport disruption
The legal dispute follows months of operational difficulties since the EES was launched in October 2025.
Airport operators have reported malfunctioning registration kiosks and repeated system outages, raising concerns about the reliability of the new technology.
During peak travel periods, technical problems combined with shortages of border control personnel have resulted in queues exceeding three hours at some airports.
The disruptions have also caused passengers to miss flights, prompting complaints from airlines, airport operators and travellers.
Biometric checks introduced across Schengen
The Entry/Exit System is designed to digitally register the entry and departure of non-EU nationals travelling to the Schengen Area.
The system replaces the traditional manual stamping of passports with electronic records and biometric identification.
Travellers covered by the rules must provide facial images and fingerprints when crossing the external borders of participating countries.
The Schengen Area comprises 29 countries, including 25 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The biometric requirements generally apply to non-EU nationals travelling for short stays, with exemptions for certain categories, including citizens of Schengen countries, Ireland and Cyprus.
The system is intended to strengthen border security, improve the identification of overstayers and modernise the management of external EU borders. However, the technical difficulties and resulting travel disruption have raised questions about its implementation and the performance of the companies responsible for delivering it.
Source:turkiyetoday
