Article 2

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
2. This Regulation shall apply from the date on which the EES is to start operations, as determined by the Commission in accordance with Article 66 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226.
3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, this Regulation shall, from the date of their connection to the EES in accordance with Article 66(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226, apply to those Member States referred to in Article 66(3) of that Regulation that are not yet operating the EES. Pending their connection to the EES, transitional provisions concerning the stamping of the travel documents laid down in Article 42a of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 shall apply to those Member States.