1. Schengen Seeing Border Checks in Belgium & Beyond
Belgium announced summer border checks on routes from places like Greece and Italy to limit migration—marking a noticeable shift away from traditional Schengen openness. Other nations like Germany and the Netherlands have also taken similar measures (travelpulse.ca, travel.state.gov, reuters.com).
2. ETIAS Costs Could Rise Before Launch
ETIAS (European Travel Information & Authorization System) launches in Q4 2026, but the EU may raise the €7 fee (paid by most adults aged 18–70) to help pay pandemic recovery costs (thesun.co.uk).
3. New Tourist Taxes & Entry Rules On the Horizon
Destinations across Spain (Catalonia, Barcelona, Balearic Islands) are ratcheting up tourist taxes and restricting behavior like public drinking or beach smoking. New fines and bans are being ramped up to counter overtourism (euronews.com).
4. EES & ETIAS Prep For 2025–26
The Entry/Exit System (EES), cutting passport stamps and collecting biometric data, rolls out October 2025–March 2026. ETIAS follows in late 2026—expect both systems to streamline—and monitor—border crossings (en.wikipedia.org).
Quick Tips:
- Plan ahead: Budget extra time for border checks, especially in summer.
- ETIAS prep: Most travelers won’t need to apply yet, but be ready when the system goes live.
- Know local rules: Pay attention to bans or fines specific to cities like Barcelona or Ibiza.