Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 July 2026
Letter from the Port of Dover relating to EU Entry Exit System border arrangements over the summer, 29 June 2026
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: UK trade with the EU
Summary
The Port of Dover writes to the Business and Trade Committee chair on 29 June 2026 regarding EU Entry Exit System (EES) border arrangements ahead of summer peak travel. Despite £40 million investment in new processing infrastructure, the port warns that inoperable EES kiosk technology and French operational constraints risk severe congestion during July–August, threatening tourism, emergency services access, and just-in-time freight trade. The port urges proactive formal agreement with France and the EU to defer full EES implementation or stand it down during peak season.
Key findings
- Port of Dover invested £40 million in new Western Docks facility with 84 kiosks, but EES kiosk technology inoperability and French policy requiring cars to queue in constrained Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal prevent intended use.
- May Half Term Critical Incident saw 4.5-hour queues after only hours of EES processing with 8,500 vehicles; summer peak regularly exceeds 12,000 daily vehicles, risking gridlock spilling onto public highways affecting Dover and Folkestone.
- HGV and freight traffic will be delayed by tourist vehicle congestion despite most European hauliers holding passports exempt from EES; just-in-time medicines, automotive components, and fresh food depend on Dover's speed.
- Port seeks proactive formal agreement from EU and France to defer or stand down full EES implementation during summer, rather than relying on post-facto contingency plans; Dover handles one-third of all UK–EU goods trade.
- UK government responses acknowledge the issue has highest-level attention and discuss encouraging pragmatic solutions, but no workable solution is yet agreed and time is rapidly running out.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Port of Dover, Liam Byrne MP, Business and Trade Committee, Doug Bannister, French Government, Police aux Frontières, UK Department for Transport, UK Home Office
Notable line
“Without greater flexibility in how EES is operated during periods of exceptional demand, we will face repeated episodes of severe congestion throughout the summer holiday period.”
Key Quotes
“We are rapidly heading towards the start of the critical summer period and are yet to receive the assurances we need to avoid what has the potential to be a very challenging six weeks.”
“… the new facility is not currently being used as originally intended due to the inoperability of the EES kiosk technology, which is completely beyond the control of the port.”
“This occurred on a day when around 8,500 tourist vehicles travelled through the Port. In only a matter of weeks, Dover will enter the peak summer getaway period when daily volumes can regularly exceed 12,000 vehicles.”
“… the goods being transited are primarily just-in-time products - medicines, automotive components, fresh food – that must be on the shelf or on an assembly line within a very short time window.”
“The only way to address it is proactively before it even starts.”
“Handling one third of all UK trade in goods with the EU, the Port of Dover can and should play a central role in the wider UK/EU reset agenda to make trading with our largest and closest trading partner easier - leading to economic …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗