The EU is suing a consortium of three companies over delays in developing a border control system. The system’s rollout disrupted airports last summer.
Specifically, IBM, Atos, and the Italian company Leonardo are being sued by eu-LISA. eu-LISA oversees the system’s implementation. This is evident from internal communications reviewed by The Financial Times (FT).
The new border control system requires travelers from outside the EU to have their fingerprints and photos scanned upon their first entry into the Schengen Area. The system records the entry and exit of travelers from outside the EU and is intended, among other things, to help identify individuals who remain in the Schengen Area longer than permitted. The system was originally scheduled to launch in 2022 but was not fully implemented until this year. The rollout was plagued by software and hardware issues, including fingerprint scanners that did not function properly. This led to hours-long lines at airports across Europe. Some EU countries are still in the process of purchasing the scanners. Previously, IT issues at an external supplier also caused major disruptions at European airports.
No hearings scheduled yet
eu-LISA confirmed in its latest annual report, published in July, that it had filed a lawsuit in December 2025 in Estonia, where the agency is based. This followed several delays in the consortium of contractors’ delivery of the system. A court spokesperson confirmed that the civil case had been filed. No hearings have taken place yet, and none are scheduled, she added, according to the FT. According to eu-LISA, the legal proceedings do not affect the operation of the entry/exit system.
In 2019, the EU agency awarded a key contract for the EES to a consortium consisting of IBM Belgium, Atos Belgium, and Leonardo. The six-year contract covered implementing and maintaining the central entry-exit system.
In a letter dated October 2021, which was reviewed by the FT, Atos Belgium and IBM Belgium contested a fine imposed by the agency, arguing that the delays were due to external factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. A few months later, in February 2022, the three companies objected to new deadlines set by eu-LISA.