The European Union will begin implementing a new system to record fingerprints and photos of non-European travelers this Sunday as part of a plan to enhance border security. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived two votes of no confidence in the European Parliament.

The new biometric monitoring system, called the Entry-Exit System (EES), aims to strengthen security at the EU’s external borders by requiring non-European travelers to provide fingerprints and photos upon entering or leaving EU territory. This system replaces manual passport stamps with an electronic mechanism to record traveler data and entry and exit dates, allowing authorities to detect overstays or illegal entries.

The system will be gradually implemented to avoid congestion at air and land border crossings, with countries like France and Germany starting limited use at major airports before full deployment by mid-April 2026. It covers all travelers from outside the EU, including British citizens post-Brexit, except those arriving in Cyprus and Ireland. The measures also extend to Schengen-associated countries Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

Biometric data will be stored centrally for three years, enabling identification and tracking of immigration or security violations. The European Commission believes the system will help combat irregular migration, human trafficking, and document fraud, while speeding up procedures for regular travelers.

Commission spokeswoman Anita Hieb stated the system “will make Europe’s borders safer without undermining freedom of movement,” noting it will coincide with the launch of the digital travel authorization “ETIAS” planned for 2026.

Separately, Ursula von der Leyen survived two no-confidence motions brought by the far-right and radical left in the European Parliament. The motions were rejected in Strasbourg, confirming continued support from major political groups despite growing criticism of her performance.

Members of both right and left accused von der Leyen of overstepping her authority on migration policies and “yielding to the United States” regarding the Gaza war, while others criticized her management of EU climate policy. Von der Leyen responded after the vote that the result was “proof of Parliament’s confidence in the Commission,” emphasizing Europe’s need for unified leadership during a time when its values and borders face a real test.

This development comes as EU institutions prepare a series of security and technological reforms ahead of the European Parliament elections scheduled for June, amid rising pressure from nationalist right-wing factions on migration and European identity issues, and growing concerns about Russian threats and cyberattacks targeting the continent’s infrastructure.