European passports should contain digital photographs and possibly fingerprints to improve security and combat illegal immigration into the EU under proposals presented by the European Commission today.
The proposals also seek to meet tough new US security measures introduced after the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Washington has said it would only allow a visa-free travel system with EU states to continue if they introduced biometric digital technology in passports.
The integrity of the European passport was damaged when it was revealed after September 11th that several suspects linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network held either forged or stolen passports from EU member states.
Under the proposals, passports issued by EU states would have to include digital photographs with fingerprints being an optional, additional safety feature.
The proposals will now be presented to European Union member states, which have already provisionally agreed to include the same biometric data in visas and residence permits for non-EU citizens.
But the EU will not be able to meet an October 26th deadline imposed by Washington when all travellers must carry digital images or fingerprints in their passports if they are to enter the United States without a visa.
Commission officials said EU states would most likely only be able to start issuing the new passports by the end of 2005.