| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.11, 23.3.06 |
| Publication Date | 23/03/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By David Cronin Date: 23/03/06 A plan for requiring foreigners in the EU to have their fingerprints attached to their residence permits has been withdrawn by the European Commission. The Commission suggested in 2003 that each visa and residence permit issued to non-EU citizens should contain a chip carrying a facial image and two fingerprints. But a committee appointed by EU governments concluded in 2004 that the scheme would not be feasible. The main problem identified was that a 'collision' could occur between chips required by the EU and those which other countries demand for passports or ID cards held by their citizens. Interference between chips and reading devices could cause the latter to malfunction, it was found. A new Commission paper recommends that the insertion of chips with biometric indicators should be decided by each EU government. An EU official handling the dossier said that it would only be mandatory to store biometric indicators from foreigners in the Visa Information System (VIS) rather than on individual travel and residence documents. VIS, to be operational next year, is expected to contain biometric indicators for 70 million travellers within a decade. Austria's EU presidency has scheduled a debate on residence permits for a meeting of the justice and interior ministers in June. Article reports that the European Commission withdrew a plan for requiring third-country nationals in the EU to have their fingerprints attached to their residence permits after a technical committee, the 'Committee Article 6' had warned that the scheme would not be feasible. The main problem identified was that a 'collision' could occur between chips required by the EU and those which other countries demand for passports or ID cards held by their citizens. The European Commission on 10 March 2006 presented an amended proposal for Council Regulation laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Justice and Home Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
