Brussels – 22 July 2026. Ambassadors (Coreper II) met today in Brussels with a crowded agenda that—although dominated by external-relations files—also included a crucial update on the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES). According to diplomats, the Irish Presidency tabled an information note warning that several Member States, including Belgium, have not yet deployed sufficient biometric kiosks at major airports to handle July-August traffic. The discussion follows mounting industry pressure: ACI Europe and leading carriers warned earlier this month that waiting times for third-country nationals at Brussels Airport were already hitting two hours. Belgium has installed 30 EES kiosks at Zaventem but modelling by the federal police shows a shortfall of 15 units on peak departure days. Coreper endorsed a draft Council implementing decision that would let Member States apply a ‘light-touch’ procedure—skipping fingerprint capture—if queues exceed 60 minutes, provided a risk-analysis module remains active. For global-mobility managers, the temporary flexibility means third-country assignees entering Belgium during the summer may face less disruption, but they should still factor in additional border-crossing time when booking tight connections. Employers sponsoring Type D visas should remind travellers that relaxed biometric rules do not change overstay calculations; exit stamps are now fully digital and automatically matched to entry data. The note will be forwarded to the Justice and Home Affairs Council for formal adoption on 26 July. If approved, Belgium plans to issue an operational directive to Brussels Airport police the same day. Corporate travel departments should monitor airline briefings and prepare to cascade real-time updates to travellers via mobile apps.
