Greece preparing more flexible entry for Serbian tourists: Suspension of EES system during the season?
Introduction of a new Entry/Exit System (EES) for the European Union, which involves taking fingerprints and photographs at borders, has caused justified fear of kilometre-long queues. However, signals coming from Athens suggest that Greece may invoke the right to temporarily suspend these rules at times of greatest pressure. After such a move announced for British tourists, a similar scenario is expected for passengers from Serbia, which is of great importance for regional agencies and tour operators.
Flexibility as a response to the logistical challenge
The implementation of the EES system represents a significant operational burden for border crossings, which are already operating at the edge of their capacity. Aleksandar Seničić, director of the National Association of Travel Agencies of Serbia (YUTA), points out that the European Commission leaves room for member states to adapt protocols in exceptional circumstances. This means that during July and August, when tourist inflows are at their highest, Greek customs officers could abandon biometric checks return to traditional passport control.
Such a decision is not just a matter of goodwill, but of economic necessity. Given that millions of tourists from the region gravitate towards Greek resorts, a bottleneck at the border could seriously jeopardise the season and divert travellers towards competing destinations that are not part of Schengen.
Experiences from other markets and their impact on road transport
The precedent with British citizens shows that Greece prepared for compromises to protect its most important tourism market. Although an official decision on the complete abolition of checks for third countries is not on the table, it is believed that border services' discretionary powers will be used as early as June.
For travellers using road transport, this is key information. Recommendations suggest that in the event of delays at road border crossings, the procedure could be shortened to just a few seconds per traveller by skipping fingerprinting. This would ensure the flow that is necessary for the functioning of charter buses and individual departures to the coast.
Energy stability and travel continuity
Alongside administrative challenges at the borders, questions have also arisen publicly about fuel supplies due to instability in the Strait of Hormuz. However, analyses from the refining sector confirm that Greece The company has reserves sufficient for at least two months of uninterrupted operation. For the tourism industry, this means there is currently no fear of shortages at petrol stations, which is a crucial factor for anyone planning to travel by their own vehicle.
Ultimately, the transitional period for the full implementation of EES lasts until September 2026. This period leaves destinations like Greece with enough room to manoeuvre to test the system without drastic consequences for tourist traffic, relying on pragmatic solutions rather than strict bureaucracy.
