- Greece has announced that British passport holders will be exempt from providing fingerprints and facial biometrics under the new EU Entry-Exit System (EES) this summer.
- The move aims to ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience for British tourists, who will instead have their passports manually examined and stamped.
- The European Commission has expressed dismay, stating that the EES legal framework does not allow for a "blanket exemption for nationals of specific third countries" for an extended period.
- Brussels is seeking clarification from Greek authorities, as the system is designed to apply to all third-country nationals, with only temporary suspensions possible under exceptional circumstances.
- Despite the EU's stance, special lanes are anticipated at busy Greek airports to segregate British arrivals, who constitute a significant portion of non-European visitors.
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