EU sues IBM and two European firms over troubled entry/exit border system
The EU has filed a lawsuit against IBM, French IT company Atos and Italian defense contractor Leonardo over their troubled border-management system.
The bloc's IT agency, EU-Lisa, filed the case against the three members of the consortium responsible for implementing and maintaining the EU's entry/exit system, which was launched in October 2025. The lawsuit was revealed in EU-Lisa's latest annual accounts.
System Problems
Since its launch, the EES has faced significant difficulties, with airports reporting malfunctioning kiosks and system outages causing waiting times of up to three hours at peak periods. Some passengers have missed their flights as a result of delays blamed on the new technology and insufficient border staff.
Legal Action
EU-Lisa stated that "following the various delays in the delivery of the EES by a contracting consortium the agency activated the available contractual and legal remedies to protect its financial interest." The claim was submitted to a court in Estonia on December 22, 2025, where EU-Lisa is headquartered.
Border System Details
The EES increased security checks on passengers traveling into the EU from outside its border-free travel zone. Travelers' faces must be photographed and fingerprints scanned before they are allowed into the Schengen area, which comprises 25 of the 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
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