Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas has joined the chorus of calls for the suspension of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at Portuguese airports.
Speaking on Tuesday during the 631st anniversary celebrations of the city’s Fire and Rescue Service Brigade, Moedas said the system should be paused to prevent further disruption.
“I think it is necessary, at this moment, to suspend the electronic system because it is not working,” he said, adding that queues in recent days had left passengers waiting for hours and created “chaos” at Portugal’s main entry points, presenting a “terrible image” of the country.
The mayor recognised the importance of the system for security within Europe, noting that it helps identify travellers, including individuals who should not be allowed entry. However, he said operational problems needed to be resolved urgently.
Moedas said he was already aware of potential issues when the system was being developed at an EU level, adding that similar difficulties are being seen in other countries.
“We have proof here that it is causing problems not only in Portugal, but also in other countries.”
“In Lisbon, the problem has now reached a point where it is necessary to suspend the system, because if we do not suspend it immediately, and we are still at the start of what will be summer, we are going to have chaos here. That cannot happen,” he said.
Moedas pointed out that the system “was not well-designed at an international level”, adding that this is not a matter that can be dealt with by the Portuguese government alone and requires intervention from the European Union.
The electronic border system, known as the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), replaces passport stamping with digital recording of fingerprints and facial images for non-EU travellers. It has been introduced gradually across EU countries and began rolling out in Portugal in October 2025.
Source: LUSA