Following months of testing and long queues at Lisbon Airport, Portugal joins the full implementation of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) this Friday, April 10. The initiative strengthens border monitoring for the Schengen Area, making digital registration mandatory for foreign citizens. European Commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà stated that the system is performing well, with over 45 million entries and exits recorded during the trial period, though some member states have faced technical implementation difficulties. Portugal previously experienced significant delays and chaos, leading to a temporary suspension of the system in December, which was quietly resumed in January. Authorities noted that if excessive wait times occur, particularly during the summer, member states may opt to suspend biometric data registration.