The EU is suing IBM, Atos and Leonardo over delays to the EES system

The European Union has sued US giant IBM, French IT group Atos Belgium, and Italian defense-sector company Leonardo, accusing them of repeated delays in developing the Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to electronically record third-country nationals’ crossings at the external borders of the Schengen Area. The action was initiated by eu-LISA, the European agency responsible for the operational management of information systems in the field of security and justice, according to the Financial Times, as reported by Reuters.

The lawsuit concerns the system’s development phase and does not affect the actual operation of the EES, eu-LISA told the Financial Times. The agency did not provide details regarding the amount of any potential damages or the exact nature of the alleged delays.

The EES covers the 29 countries in the Schengen Area and is designed to automatically record the entries and exits of third-country nationals. The system aims to identify people who overstay their legal period of residence, combat identity fraud, and limit illegal migration.

In 2019, eu-LISA awarded the main contract to a consortium comprising IBM Belgium, Atos Belgium, and Leonardo. The six-year agreement provided for the development and maintenance of the central EES system. The contractual deadline and accumulated delays led to the initiation of the legal proceedings.