UK on verge of deal with EU to let Britons use European passport e-gates

British holidaymakers could face shorter airport queues this summer, with negotiators on the verge of striking an agreement for UK passport holders to use e-gates across Europe.

Downing Street said on Saturday that it was poised to strike a deal with the EU that would improve things for Britons facing “queues on holiday”.

The Guardian understands officials on both sides are in talks about allowing British travellers to use e-gates reserved for people from the EU or European Economic Area when arriving at airports in Europe, ending the current two-queue system.

The issue forms part of negotiations before the highly anticipated UK-EU summit in London on Monday, which will focus on a security and defence pact.

Since Brexit, British travellers have had to queue to have their passports stamped when arriving in many European airports. Some airports in Portugal and Spain have introduced e-gates that accept British passports, though the Foreign Office still encourages UK travellers to get their passports stamped.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the EU relations minister, appeared to confirm on Sunday that British holidaymakers could face shorter airport queues.

“I would love to see you being able to go through the border more quickly in that way. That’s certainly something we’ve been pushing with the EU and I think that will be something that will be very helpful to British people,” he told Sky News.

He also suggested that any youth mobility scheme with Europe would have to be “smart and controlled”, as well as being consistent with the government’s immigration policy.

He told the BBC: “As of today we have already 13 youth mobility schemes with other countries. Nobody is remotely suggesting that that is freedom of movement with those countries, it absolutely isn’t.”

The senior minister added that the UK had been “negotiating very hard” for a deal on food and drink exports with the EU. “This is an area at the moment where the current deal just isn’t working,” he said.

“We know we’ve had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported because frankly it’s just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that.”

The government would be willing to align with EU rules in some areas, he said, and would assess whether to contribute money to EU projects such as the Horizon science scheme on a case-by-case basis.