The EU Commission says that the EES will reduce the average time spent at passport control from 90 seconds to 20 seconds per person. Airlines have warned of five-hour queues at airports.

Under the new 'Entry/Exit System' (EES) system, non-EU citizens must have their fingerprints and photos taken when they first enter its borders.

The new photograph and fingerprint requirements are designed to stop criminals and visa overstayers — but they have left thousands of visitors stuck in line.