The Entry/Exit System (EES): European border control within the Schengen Area and its impact on Andorra

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👤 The Schengen Area and the free movement of people

The Schengen Area is one of the fundamental pillars of European integration.
It was created through the Schengen Agreement (1985) and the Implementation Convention (1990), aiming to enable the free movement of people within a common area without internal border controls.

Since then, Schengen has evolved into a shared mobility space where controls are carried out only at external borders.

Unlike the European Union, Schengen does not regulate goods or capital — it deals exclusively with the movement of people and related police cooperation.

There are three categories of States:

• EU countries that are part of Schengen, such as Spain, France, Italy, or Germany.
• EU countries that are not part of Schengen, such as Ireland or Cyprus.
• Non-EU countries that belong to Schengen, such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.

In short, the European Union legislates on policy and economy, while the Schengen Area coordinates human mobility and collective security.

⚖️ Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 and the creation of the EES system

Regulation (EU) 2017/2226, adopted on 30 November 2017, established the Entry/Exit System (EES) — a European mechanism that replaces manual passport stamps with an automated electronic register.

The EES applies to all nationals of third countries (i.e. individuals who are not citizens of a Schengen State) and will:

• Record the date, time, and place of each entry and exit.
• Store biometric data (fingerprints and facial image).
• Automatically calculate the authorised length of stay (90 days within 180).
• Detect overstays automatically.

The system is managed by eu-LISA, the European agency also responsible for other large-scale databases such as VIS (Visa Information System) and Eurodac.

Its dual purpose is to enhance common security and facilitate legitimate travel at the external borders of Schengen.

🌍 Scope of application: only at Schengen’s external borders

Although it is an EU regulation, the EES does not apply to all EU countries, but only to the external borders of States belonging to the Schengen Area.
This means:

✅ External borders (e.g. Spain–Morocco or France–Andorra) fall under the EES, as do non-EU Schengen States such as Switzerland or Norway.
❌ Internal borders (e.g. France–Spain) are not subject to EES controls.
❌ EU countries outside Schengen (Ireland, Cyprus) do not apply the system.

Thus, the EES is a Schengen initiative, not an EU-wide one, although its implementation is coordinated by the European Commission.

🎯 Main objectives of the system

The EES serves three main purposes:

1️⃣ Strengthening collective security.
Through a unified biometric register for all Schengen States, the system identifies irregular stays and helps prevent cross-border offences.

2️⃣ Streamlining border procedures.
The system replaces manual stamps with quick biometric scans, reducing waiting times and human error.

3️⃣ Improving police and counter-terrorism cooperation.
National authorities and Europol can access the database for security purposes under a harmonised legal framework.

📅 Implementation status and expected timeline

Although adopted in 2017, the EES rollout has faced delays.
Interconnecting national systems, developing biometric infrastructure, and training border officers have taken longer than expected.

According to Decision (EU) 2025/1544, the system will enter into operation on 12 October 2025 and reach full functionality by spring 2026.
In the meantime, all Schengen States are finalising compatibility tests with the central database.

🇦🇩 The case of Andorra: a European exception

Andorra is neither part of the EU nor the Schengen Area, yet it is located between two fully integrated Schengen countries — Spain and France.
This geographic position makes its borders unavoidable transit points between the European space and a third territory.

🤝 The agreements governing this relationship

Relations between Andorra, Spain, and France are governed by:

• The Treaty of Good Neighbourhood, Friendship and Cooperation (1993), which recognises Andorra’s sovereignty and establishes institutional collaboration.
• The trilateral agreements of 4 December 2000 (in force since 2003), which regulate entry, residence, and establishment of nationals of the three countries, as well as the regime applicable to nationals of third States.

Thanks to these agreements, Andorran citizens can reside and settle in Spain and France under a regime similar to Schengen’s, while Spanish and French citizens can enter Andorra without a visa.
Consequently, Andorra maintains a practical regime of free mobility with its neighbours, despite not being formally part of Schengen.

🌐 Entering and leaving Schengen through Andorra

For the European Union, Andorra’s border posts —La Farga de Moles and Pas de la Casa— are considered external Schengen borders.
This means the EES will apply to entries and exits of nationals from third countries crossing these points.

When a non-Schengen national enters Andorra from Spain or France, the system records an exit from Schengen.
When they return to Spain or France, it records a new entry.
This allows automatic calculation of their total stay within Schengen (90/180 days) and monitoring of any irregularities.

In practice:

• Andorran, Spanish, and French citizens will not be registered.
• Andorra residents with Schengen passports (Italian, German, Portuguese, etc.) will not be affected either.
• However, non-European residents (Russian, Chinese, Algerian) and tourists from outside Schengen (Japanese, American, etc.) will be registered at each crossing.

While this may seem redundant, it makes sense legally: the entry and exit record belongs to the EU, not to Andorra, and serves to calculate stays within Schengen, not within the Principality.

🏛️ Jurisdiction and practical effects for Andorra

Schengen’s external borders fall under the exclusive competence of the European Union.This means that:

• Spain and France cannot unilaterally alter how the EES operates.
• Bilateral agreements with Andorra must remain compatible with EU law.
• The EU cannot revoke those agreements but can condition their application to ensure that controls meet common standards.

Therefore, the EES has an indirect yet unavoidable impact on Andorra: while the country does not manage the system, all its international movements pass through European borders where it is applied.

🧾 Conclusion and summary

The Entry/Exit System (EES), established by Regulation (EU) 2017/2226, represents a decisive step toward digital and coordinated management of mobility across Schengen’s external borders.
Its goal is to record electronically the entries and exits of third-country nationals, calculate their stays, and reinforce shared security — with gradual implementation between 2025 and 2026.

Although Andorra is not part of Schengen, its geographic position —surrounded by Spain and France— means that any international movement depends on Schengen borders, making the country indirectly affected by the system.

The 2000 trilateral agreements do not alter the EES’s operation but preserve a stable framework of cooperation and mutual recognition, ensuring continued mobility between the three countries.

Ultimately, the EES’s impact on Andorra is geographical rather than legal: the Principality is not part of the system, yet its physical connection to Schengen means its residents and visitors —especially non-Europeans— will be most directly affected by this new digital control regime.

If you wish to understand how the EES may affect you — depending on your nationality, residence status, or professional plans — you can schedule a personalised meeting below, or fill out the contact form.

Last revision date: October 2025