fter multiple delays, EU member states have agreed to move forward with the Entry/Exit System (EES)—an automated IT system for non–EU nationals visiting EU countries. The EES will replace the traditional stamping of passports at border checkpoints, and the technology will ensure that information is shared with all EU members more accurately and instantaneously. This shared database of information will improve the EU’s security and help to alert authorities to cases of identity fraud.
The EES has been discussed since 2016 with initial plans to launch the system in 2022. However, implementing this technology has been continually delayed as several EU governments have voiced their lack of preparedness to begin using the system. To remedy these concerns, the latest agreement will allow governments to implement the EES in phases, although other states can launch the system all at once if they are prepared to do so. Any EU members phasing in the EES will do so over six months, and Poland’s minister for internal affairs and administration hopes all of the countries will launch the program by October 2025.
There are also some concerns about the security of the shared database of information, as the EES requires the collection of photographs and fingerprints from non–EU citizens.
Notably, Ireland and Cyprus are two countries that will not be implementing the EES.
World–renowned Spanish artist touts AI
AI technology is rapidly advancing, and so is the ever–concerning dilemma of preserving artistic integrity and creativity amidst AI’s prevalence. But for world–renowned Spanish artist Pedro Sandoval, AI and art can go hand in hand. Sandoval recently released what is claimed to be the world’s first fully AI–created, Spotify–certified music album. To create the AI voices behind the album, Sandoval collaborated with partners to develop two AI “singers,” which have each received Spotify’s certification as well.
There are questions about how new Sandoval’s achievement truly is, however, as other Spotify–certified AI “singers” exist, and have released numerous songs (though not necessarily albums) on the platform. But beyond the debatable accolade, what does this step forward in AI–produced music suggest for the future?
Pedro Sandoval believes AI is a tool necessary for the creation of art in the future. Rather than viewing AI’s increasing aptitude as a possible replacement for human work, Sandoval argues that, especially within artistic creation, AI’s output is controlled by humans, who set its parameters and edit AI’s creations. Sandoval has shared that after attending the 2019 World Economic Forum, he was one of several artists selected by Bill Gates to use his artwork to train AI.
For now, however, the future of AI as artists is still pending. While Sandoval’s AI singers ZKY–18 and Dirty Marilyn are Spotify certified and prolific, they remain relatively anonymous. Both “artists” have released several albums, although the monthly listeners as of this writing on Spotify are only 145 and 80, respectively.
France is facing an agricultural crisis
The annual Paris International Agricultural Show took place this year from 21 February to 1 March. Every year, the show brings together farmers, breeders, research institutes, and other agriculture–affiliated organizations to share their perspectives on the industry. The show also highlights an international country, with 2025 featuring Morocco and fun activities to share the agriculture industry with visitors. This year, trying to encourage visitors to participate in agriculture has been more important than ever, as France is facing a looming farming crisis.
Finding youth in France willing to study to become farmers is becoming extremely challenging, according to the youth Euronews talked to at the Paris International Agricultural Show. While some are still determined to follow in their parents’ footsteps, others are holding back due to the long hours, low wages, and competition that French farmers face. In 2024, French farmers protested various issues that impacted their ability to successfully produce food, including working long hours for decreasing pay, the restrictions that EU regulations put on their work, and the increased global trade competition from the Mercosur Accord. With all the stressors farmers in France are facing, a 2024 report detailed that “One farmer dies by suicide every two days in France,” which further emphasizes why youth would stay away from the profession. Thus, for France’s agricultural industry to survive the impacts of climate change and the ongoing mental health crisis among farmers, drastic action needs to be taken.
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EU hopes to launch Entry/Exit System by October
Photo courtesy of Jens-Olaf Walter via Flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0
April 10, 2025
Diplomatic Courier’s Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the–radar stories from Europe: an automated entry/exit system for the EU, AI singers on Spotify, and an agricultural crisis in France.
A
fter multiple delays, EU member states have agreed to move forward with the Entry/Exit System (EES)—an automated IT system for non–EU nationals visiting EU countries. The EES will replace the traditional stamping of passports at border checkpoints, and the technology will ensure that information is shared with all EU members more accurately and instantaneously. This shared database of information will improve the EU’s security and help to alert authorities to cases of identity fraud.
The EES has been discussed since 2016 with initial plans to launch the system in 2022. However, implementing this technology has been continually delayed as several EU governments have voiced their lack of preparedness to begin using the system. To remedy these concerns, the latest agreement will allow governments to implement the EES in phases, although other states can launch the system all at once if they are prepared to do so. Any EU members phasing in the EES will do so over six months, and Poland’s minister for internal affairs and administration hopes all of the countries will launch the program by October 2025.
There are also some concerns about the security of the shared database of information, as the EES requires the collection of photographs and fingerprints from non–EU citizens.
Notably, Ireland and Cyprus are two countries that will not be implementing the EES.
World–renowned Spanish artist touts AI
AI technology is rapidly advancing, and so is the ever–concerning dilemma of preserving artistic integrity and creativity amidst AI’s prevalence. But for world–renowned Spanish artist Pedro Sandoval, AI and art can go hand in hand. Sandoval recently released what is claimed to be the world’s first fully AI–created, Spotify–certified music album. To create the AI voices behind the album, Sandoval collaborated with partners to develop two AI “singers,” which have each received Spotify’s certification as well.
There are questions about how new Sandoval’s achievement truly is, however, as other Spotify–certified AI “singers” exist, and have released numerous songs (though not necessarily albums) on the platform. But beyond the debatable accolade, what does this step forward in AI–produced music suggest for the future?
Pedro Sandoval believes AI is a tool necessary for the creation of art in the future. Rather than viewing AI’s increasing aptitude as a possible replacement for human work, Sandoval argues that, especially within artistic creation, AI’s output is controlled by humans, who set its parameters and edit AI’s creations. Sandoval has shared that after attending the 2019 World Economic Forum, he was one of several artists selected by Bill Gates to use his artwork to train AI.
For now, however, the future of AI as artists is still pending. While Sandoval’s AI singers ZKY–18 and Dirty Marilyn are Spotify certified and prolific, they remain relatively anonymous. Both “artists” have released several albums, although the monthly listeners as of this writing on Spotify are only 145 and 80, respectively.
France is facing an agricultural crisis
The annual Paris International Agricultural Show took place this year from 21 February to 1 March. Every year, the show brings together farmers, breeders, research institutes, and other agriculture–affiliated organizations to share their perspectives on the industry. The show also highlights an international country, with 2025 featuring Morocco and fun activities to share the agriculture industry with visitors. This year, trying to encourage visitors to participate in agriculture has been more important than ever, as France is facing a looming farming crisis.
Finding youth in France willing to study to become farmers is becoming extremely challenging, according to the youth Euronews talked to at the Paris International Agricultural Show. While some are still determined to follow in their parents’ footsteps, others are holding back due to the long hours, low wages, and competition that French farmers face. In 2024, French farmers protested various issues that impacted their ability to successfully produce food, including working long hours for decreasing pay, the restrictions that EU regulations put on their work, and the increased global trade competition from the Mercosur Accord. With all the stressors farmers in France are facing, a 2024 report detailed that “One farmer dies by suicide every two days in France,” which further emphasizes why youth would stay away from the profession. Thus, for France’s agricultural industry to survive the impacts of climate change and the ongoing mental health crisis among farmers, drastic action needs to be taken.
