Greece Assures No Border Delays for British Holidaymakers

British travelers heading to Greece this summer can expect a smooth entry process, as the country's tourism minister has assured no border delays. Greece has suspended biometric checks for UK visitors, a key component of the European Union's new digital border system known as the EES. This initiative aims to prevent tourists from being burdened by bureaucratic procedures.

The EU's entry-exit system, implemented in April, requires non-EU visitors to register biometric data. However, Greece has moved to ensure its frontier checks take "less than a couple of minutes." This contrasts sharply with difficulties reported in other parts of the EU, where significant queues have led to missed flights.

Greece maintains it is not violating EU regulations, citing provisions that allow for brief suspensions of EES checks during periods of airport congestion. The minister emphasized that Greece is facilitating the process rather than offering a blanket exemption. Additionally, concerns about potential jet fuel shortages and price hikes have been addressed, with assurances that these issues are not expected to significantly deter travel to Greece.