| Hot Topics: Biometric Passports |
|
|
|
|
Washington Delegation Press Room
With EU Member States preparing to introduce new, secure biometric passports by
August 28, 2006, the European Commission announced an added security
measure: by June 2009 two fingerprints will be added to the microchip that will
already contain a facial image.
Then European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini (replaced by Jacques Barrot), Commissioner responsible for freedom, security and justice, declared that "this is a key step forward to render passports of EU citizens more secure and reliable. I am particularly proud.” The Vice President continued “that the EU is among the first in the world issuing passports with a high level of protection against unauthorized access by providing 'Extended Access Control,' whilst at the same time complying with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in order to ensure interoperability.”
By meeting the August 28 deadline, EU Member States also fulfilled the US requirements for "visa waiver" countries to issue biometrically-enabled passports by October 2006. EU citizens holding a passport issued by a "visa waiver" country after August 28 can therefore continue to travel without a visa to the United States.
The harmonized introduction of biometric identifiers in the passports of EU citizens will also ensure that the identity of the holder can be easily established and will protect against identity fraud.
|
|
| Last Updated ( Sunday, 24 August 2008 ) |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
European Union - Delegation of the European Commission to the United States