# EU Sues IBM and Partners Over Border Control System Delays Brussels seeks damages from tech consortium following massive airport congestion and project failures. - **Source:** [Bankier.pl](https://www.bankier.pl) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/8c8f4b3c-8ba8-45c7-9382-181ae39e63ee ## Legal Action Against Consortium The European Union has initiated legal proceedings against IBM, French group Atos, and Italian firm Leonardo. This action follows persistent delays in the delivery of the Entry/Exit System (EES). EU-Lisa, the agency overseeing the project, cited the consortium's failure to meet deadlines and disregard for warnings as the primary justification for litigation. ## Operational Failures at Borders The EES was designed to streamline border crossings via fingerprint scanning and facial recognition for non-EU travelers. However, the system caused massive queues and travel chaos at airports. Technical issues, particularly with fingerprint scanners failing when contaminated by sweat, significantly hindered operations and caused substantial financial losses for travelers and airlines. ## Contractual and Financial Disputes The total value of the contract was increased from 142 million euros to 212 million euros in 2022. Despite this, IBM agreed to withhold certain payments pending the resolution of compensation claims. The original contract expired last year, though the consortium remained responsible for the project's delivery until August of this year. ## Consortium Defense and Justifications The consortium firms have defended their performance by citing external factors, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. They further argued that the European Union imposed unrealistic project timelines that failed to account for operational realities. These disputes highlight the friction between the governing agency and the private contractors tasked with critical infrastructure. ## Security and Compliance Concerns Beyond performance delays, the consortium faced scrutiny regarding its internal operations. Reports indicated that Atos utilized a Moscow-based office to procure software for the sensitive border system. While EU-Lisa conducted an investigation and concluded that no security breaches occurred, the incident added significant pressure to the already strained relationship between the parties. ## Impact on European Travel The implementation of the EES has exacerbated existing travel bottlenecks, particularly following the complexities introduced by Brexit. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary criticized the resulting chaos, noting that the system contributed to significant delays. Travelers faced hours of waiting, with some even being stranded at airports during the peak of the system's instability. ## Current Status of EES Although the EES was initially scheduled for inauguration in 2022, it reached full implementation only recently. The European Commission maintains that the lawsuit focuses strictly on delivery delays rather than the current functionality of the system. EU-Lisa asserts that the ongoing legal proceedings have no impact on the system's current operational status. ## Broader Implications for Infrastructure This case underscores the risks associated with large-scale digital infrastructure projects managed by multi-national consortia. The transition to a new implementation team marks the end of a troubled chapter for the EES. Future projects will likely face stricter oversight to prevent the recurrence of such significant technical and administrative failures. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Pot-na-palcach-paralizowal-granice-UE-Bruksela-domaga-sie-milionow-od-IBM-9225982.html?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=Wiadomosci — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._