20/01/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 20 January, aviation industry representatives ACI Europe, IATA, A4E and ERA welcomed the decision to postpone the implementation of the EU’s new smart border system for non-EU nationals. While they recognise that the future entry/exit system “will be a game-changer for how the EU’s borders are managed”, they say that a number of issues need to be addressed to ensure “a smooth roll out and operation”. For example, they argue, automation at national border crossing points should be more widely adopted and Member States should ensure the deployment of sufficient and qualified staff to manage the EU’s external border. In addition, a public communication campaign is important to inform third-country nationals and sufficient resources need to be deployed to support the implementation of the new procedures by airports and airlines. (TM)