Travellers to Europe get a reprieve on new red tape

Good news for anyone planning to visit Europe over the next 12 months or so. You've just saved €7. 

The ETIAS visa waiver system that is being introduced by European Union nations has been delayed again, Travel Mole reports.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System had already been pushed back to November because of technical issues, but will now not be ready until sometime in 2024.

It was originally scheduled to begin in 2022.



The scheme’s website now says simply "starting from 2024", but no specific date has been announced.

The ETIAS scheme, which was approved back in November 2016, will require non-EU citizens to register for pre-approval to visit EU countries, with a charge applying.

The authorisation lasts for three years, and allows multiple trips to different countries in the bloc.

It is required for UK nationals and American citizens as well as Australian and New Zealand passport holders and other non-EU citizens.

The EU wants to strengthen its border security, as well as digitally screen and track travellers entering and leaving EU countries.

The system rollout has been pushed back several times as member nations fear the system will severely increase delays at border checkpoints. Which, of course, it will.

Brits get more of the Brexit chaos that they voted for

The Brexit "triumph" that bumbling buffoon Boris Johnson delivered for British racists just keeps delivering more and more well-deserved chaos.

The Port of Dover has warned cross-Channel travellers to expect "monumental" waiting times after it declared a ‘critical incident’.

Holidaymakers on ferry sailings to France have said they have been waiting five hours to pass through border checks, Travel Mole reports.

Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister blamed French border control authorities.

He told BBC Radio Kent travellers have been ‘badly let down’ by ‘insufficient resources’ for border checks.

It might be noted that a majority of Brits voted to leave Europe, promised all sorts of benefits by Johnson and his team of charlatans.

Since Brexit, all Britons leaving for the continent have to have their passports stamped. Something that Britain insisted on when it left the EU.

This takes far longer than the previous checks when people typically just waved their passport at the guards and they were waved through. This weekend is expected to be one of the busiest of the year for travel.

“The Dover route remains the most popular sea route to France and France remains one of the key holiday destinations for British families,” Dover port officials said.

“We know that resource is finite, but the popularity of Dover is not a surprise.

“Regrettably, the Police aux Frontieres resource has fallen far short of what is required to ensure a smooth first weekend of the peak summer getaway period.”

Dover said it had shared data on expected passenger numbers and UK officials had been in discussions with the French in recent days.

“We will continue to work with all Kent partners to look after those caught up in the current situation, which could and should have been avoided,” the Port added.

Snigger. 

# I just saw a report that both French border control and the Port of Dover asked in 2020 for funding for an adequate numbers of booths to be installed at the port. The Conservative government refused.