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.