Transport Secretary in EU talks over summer border checks

The Transport Secretary has been in direct contact with an EU commissioner to address concerns about the Entry/Exit System border checks, with the aim of keeping travel as smooth as possible for UK holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer and into the autumn.

The Entry/Exit System, which the European Union has been preparing to introduce at its external borders, requires non-EU travellers including UK passport holders to have their fingerprints and photographs recorded on entry and exit. For drivers taking their cars through Channel crossings or on to ferry routes, the concern is that the additional processing could add significant time to departure queues at ports such as Dover and Folkestone.

The Department for Transport confirmed that the government is working directly with EU counterparts to make border crossings as seamless as possible ahead of the peak summer period. The talks reflect official recognition that disruption at ports would affect a large number of UK drivers who take their vehicles abroad each year, particularly during the school holiday window when demand at crossings is at its highest.

For anyone planning a driving holiday to France, Spain or elsewhere in Europe this year, it is worth keeping a close eye on official guidance as the situation develops. Practical preparation matters just as much as the diplomacy: making sure your vehicle is fully roadworthy before you travel will reduce the risk of delays compounding any border queues. A pre-trip check covering tyres, lights, brakes and fluids is straightforward to arrange through a local garage, and Garage.co.uk is a useful place to find a trusted local mechanic if you want to get that sorted before you set off.