‘I’d rather holiday somewhere else’: Readers lament new EU border checks after Brexit

bheading towards retons Europe Being warned to be extra patient – as European UnionThe long delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) is finally launched, Threat of four hour queuesNew fingerprint test and £400m profit UK economy.

many Independent Readers were quick to point out that the UK helped design the EES, and accused the government of hypocrisy and reaping what you sow.

One simply noted that “the system has the UK seal of approval,” as it had previously had the support of British ministers and MEPs. Brexit,

While some readers dismissed the predicted disruption as “no big deal”, others warned that it would have a huge impact on the economy – particularly freighters and holidaymakers – with one commenting that “Brexit is going to be more real this year as the EU takes back control of the borders.”

There was a sharp division over blame: some targeted “Brexiters” for the loss of free movement, while others said young voters should share responsibility for the low turnout in 2016.

Here’s what you had to say:

what have we really lost

Border controls have always existed – no one travels between countries without being checked. What Brexit changed is the ease and cost of doing this.

British citizens now face more bureaucracy, fees and hours-long queues because Britain has chosen to become a “third country”. We did not gain sovereignty – we only lost automatic rights, security and frictionless access TravelBusiness and work across Europe made simple and cheap.

Anyone familiar with international trade and border policy could see this outcome coming.

Let’s remember – easier and cheaper travel was probably the least of the things we lost when we left the EU.

Before Brexit, Britons had the right to live, work and retire freely in 27 countries, with automatic health care and pension recognition. Work across Europe and have every contribution count towards a pension. Healthcare covered anywhere in the EU for life.

These were not “perks” – they were fundamental rights that gave people freedom, security and opportunity.

Brexit not only ended frictionless travel and trade – it took away the rights that make everyday life better for millions of people.

ISAB

Brexit has become real

UK residents are expected to make more than 134 million trips to Europe in 2024, accounting for almost 90 percent of total outbound travel.

Brexit is going to be more real this year, as the EU will take back control of the borders.

For UK goods, the full costs and delays of Brexit have been occurring since early 2021 when we left the SM/CU. Since then, food inflation in the UK has been cumulatively 45 per cent compared to 27 per cent in the EU. enjoy!

wolf

no big deal

I flew through Prague airport only three weeks ago and I had to use the new system.

There was no queue and my blue passport scanned fine. Had to go through passport control to get my wife’s old EU/UK passport finger-scanned.

No big deal.

The EU region has made progress (at great cost) in strengthening its border entry systems, while I have seen the same excuses (staff shortages and technical glitches) at UK airports and ports as before Brexit.

Bubba Ho-Tape

passport issue

That’s why we left. A complete waste of money and time – and if it caused four-hour delays at airports, I’d rather holiday anywhere else than the EU. Isn’t the purpose of a passport to confirm people’s identity? Why are photos and fingerprints needed?

chrismatthews

you knew about it

EES has taken many years to build. The original decision to go this route dates back to when you were still a member of the EU, meaning:

Who cares about £400,000,000 when you can control your limitations (well, you don’t really, but you can if you want – and it’s worth much more than an extra 16,000 nurses working for your health).

Don’t forget to thank Nigel and Boris for your (unused) suvranti,

RebootedyetagainHans2

An excellent system – designed by Britain

Since the UK took part in designing the EES and fully adopted it while a member, it is certainly an excellent system to get the UK seal of approval.

madamdeputyspeaker

Brexiteers benefit from Brexit

I would like all Brexiteers to be identified and be the ones who are given all the ‘benefits’ of Brexit, rather than the rest of us having to shoulder them. The most unfair thing is that all Boomers have triple locked state pensions. They voted overwhelmingly for Brexit and should enjoy the same ‘benefits’ as young people.

FYI, I’m a Boomer and would be happy to accept these punishments in order to convey to less enlightened people what they have achieved.

blindpew

a shared responsibility

Sadly, despite the post-referendum economic downturn, I see very little sign of the UK rejoining the EU. We are not even at the stage where there can be a rational debate on this issue. The EU has informally said it will not consider a re-application unless political consensus is reached among politicians. There is no possibility of such agreement. The UK will not be involved again in the near future.

I now have an EU passport and so am not affected by this immediate issue, but I feel sorry for those left behind.

Those willing to blame older voters for the Brexit folly need to remember that turnout among younger voters was low; Therefore the latter cannot escape its share of the blame. Baby Boomers could not have won the Leave victory on their own.

And the second point: given that it is certainly young voters who are most adversely affected by Brexit, why is it that they have done so little to campaign for rejoining the EU? Why are they not active in the European movement (or could they have set up an organization of their own)? He has been active in identity politics, but certainly not on this issue.

Brexit was a collective responsibility and young voters cannot escape the responsibility they share with their elders.

Musil

small memories

“It is completely unacceptable that the UK could lose almost half a billion pounds by failing to properly negotiate with the EU on the new accession programme.”

The Lib Dems have short memories. The EU offered simplified border controls – Johnson insisted we should be treated as a “third country”. The Tories are as guilty as Farage.

drink

Double standards

The passport does not indicate whether you are on a terrorist watch list or have been convicted of a serious crime – both of which can be a threat to national security.

The double standards of Brexiteers and anti-immigrant Farage-ists see Machiavelli as straight from the Roman road – Britain has every right to control its own borders but the EU doesn’t?

And if you think it would be easier elsewhere, I suggest you try the US for your next holiday – fingerprints, iris scans and photographs are all part of the deal there.

bleujeune

no big deal

once in schengen area are not here border check Except in special circumstances, mainly related to security issues.

For example, if I travel to France, once I pass through border control I can freely travel to Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc. without having to go through border control or show my passport.

There are no internal checks within the Schengen area. This applies to Britons as well as EU citizens and everyone else.

Being a third country is not as big a deal as many people like to think.

Kingswood

Some comments in this article have been edited for brevity and clarity.

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