EU denies state passports threat

Brussels - The European Commission denied reports yesterday that national passports could be scrapped and replaced with a standardised…

Brussels - The European Commission denied reports yesterday that national passports could be scrapped and replaced with a standardised blue EU version.

Several British newspapers carried stories saying European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Mr Antonio Vitorino, will propose harmonising EU passports. They would be blue and carry the EU emblem of 12 stars in a circle. "There is no such proposal," his spokesman said.