EU officials host exclusive webinar on EES and ETIAS for ABTA members

Sunday, January 28, 2024

ABTA is orchestrating a collaboration among EU experts and officials to present an exclusive video webinar for ABTA members, focusing on the implementation of the EU Entry Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

During the webinar, members will receive insights from DG Home, the department within the European Commission overseeing the EES implementation, and Frontex, the EU’s border control agency responsible for ETIAS.

Scheduled for Tuesday, February 13th, from 11 am to 12 pm, interested members can secure a spot by registering through the ABTA Member Zone.

The EES, set to debut in the upcoming Autumn, is an innovative automated system designed to register non-EU/Schengen citizens and track their movements each time they cross the external border of the Schengen Area.

Meanwhile, ETIAS, a visa waiver program for non-EU travelers, is slated to take effect in mid-2025. Once live, individuals will be required to apply for an ETIAS ahead of their travels through the official website Europa.eu/etias.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association, emphasized the significant impact of EES and ETIAS on UK citizens traveling to EU countries. He stressed the crucial role of ABTA members in providing advice and guidance to customers, helping them navigate the upcoming changes.

Given the risk of individuals falling victim to unofficial websites for obtaining ETIAS, with Frontex already reporting 60 active sites, ABTA members are urged to convey this vital information to their customers. Both Frontex and DG Home express eagerness to collaborate closely with ABTA in disseminating information about the impending changes.

ABTA encourages as many members as possible to participate in the webinar, providing a firsthand opportunity to hear from the agencies spearheading these transformative initiatives.

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