EU struggles with biometric deadline

The EU will fail a US deadline on biometric passports with 19 of 25 capitals again falling behind on post-September 11 security requirements.

Brussels is asking Washington for more time and an second extension from October 2005 to August 2006 for the introduction of high-tech travel documents.

Only six EU member states – Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden - are on track with moves to include digital photographs and fingerprints in passports.

If US Congress fails to give the EU extra time millions of European travellers may have to apply for visas after October - a process that can take weeks.

European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini has written to Washington appealing for a later deadline as the EU grapples with technology.

“Despite all the progress by the EU member states in reinforcing the security of passports, you are surely aware that critical aspects of the biometric technology, such as date security and interoperability of reading devices, are still being finalised,” he wrote.

“We would urge the Congress to consider a second extension of the deadline, as member states would need until August 28 2006 for the implementation of the facial image in their passports.”

Technical problems have dogged both the EU and the US, America is not expected to implement biometric passports until the end of 2006.

Washington security chiefs are to hold talks with the US Congress amid concerns that visa demands could hit Trans-Atlantic business.

“We are making very dramatic progress but if it does appear that many countries are not going to be able to meet the deadline, clearly we are going to have to discuss this with the appropriate people [in Congress] because the law is in place, said a Department of Homeland Security spokesman.

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