British officials are in talks with their French counterparts to avoid another stalemate on the English Channel border as EU controls are tightened.
Ministers are insisting that the chaos in the port of Dover, caused by the start of the Easter breakfast, is now resolved.
But to prevent a similar scenario from happening again in the future, they hope to convince the French government to simplify passport control, which has become more labor-intensive since Brexit.
From next year, the EU will introduce an electronic travel authorization requirement for the bloc, requiring border guards to collect biometrics from travelers. The former border chief warned that the new plan would turn into a “nightmare” that could “stop Dover”.
The UK government is “discussing with our French counterparts how we can further improve traffic flow,” a spokesman for the prime minister said, adding that he expected “an iterative process that would reduce the chance of disruptions.”
The spokesman suggested that French border guards were responsible for the delay in screening passengers as they stamp every non-EU citizen’s passport. He said: “This is the decision of the French authorities, how they do it, and wet stamping is not what we do on our part.”
The current negotiations with the French are currently carried out by officials without the direct involvement of ministers.
Next year, the Common European Entry/Exit System (EES) will be introduced, which will require Britons to apply for permission to enter the bloc, pay a small fee and provide biometric data such as fingerprints when crossing the border.
Number 10 said: “We are continuing to talk with ports, ferry companies and others and of course the French government to ensure that the new system of boarding and disembarking does not cause unnecessary delays for passengers.”
Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister has warned that the introduction of EES will increase delays in vehicle searches for four people from the current 90 seconds to 10 minutes.
Tony Smith, the former chief of the border forces and now president of the International Association for Border Management and Technology, said that this week’s travel problems made the introduction of EES “necessary” without causing further deadlock.
He said I: “If the French do nothing at Dover and make no suggestions as to how they are going to collect each traveler’s biometrics, maybe you won’t just run your passport through this window to scan and stamp it, you might as well introduce yourself to a French official who will take your photo and fingerprints.
“They don’t have to think about it with the traffic we usually see on these ferries, let alone peak hours. I think he will literally stop if something is not done.”
Natalie Elphick, the Conservative MP for Dover, warned that “action is needed now to prepare for the summer break” even before the EES goes into effect. David Frost, the former minister who negotiated Brexit under Boris Johnson, said ministers should agree on less controls on tourists and consider paying the French to improve their infrastructure.