StateWatch speculates that one reason for the rush lies with a
desire to comply with the Visa Waiver Scheme in the US. This will
be enforced in October 2005. By that time, passports granted to
visitors from countries currently entitled to visit the US without
first obtaining a visa – including the EU countries – must contain
biometric identifiers.
But the Council argues that it is simply trying to meet an
earlier timetable that had called for the security measures to be
agreed by the end of the year.
The rush for final approval is controversial in that the
previous draft of the Regulation from the Council of Justice and
Home Ministers had proposed that only the inclusion of a facial
image would be compulsory – and that any second biometric would be
optional.
In October, the Council of Ministers changed their minds,
requiring two biometric identifiers on each newly issued passport.
It seems that a facial image and a fingerprint will be
required.
Normally, says StateWatch, such a revised proposal would be
considered by a Parliamentary Committee before being put to a full
Parliamentary vote.
