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Press release
Visa applicants entering Schengen will have to provide photo and fingerprints
Fundamental rights - 21-11-2007 - 12:08
Committees
Committees
The Civil Liberties Committee gave its go-ahead on Tuesday to a draft regulation requiring Member States in the Schengen area to take the facial image and ten fingerprints from visa applicants wishing to enter EU territory. However, MEPs voted for a number of exemptions for children and diplomats as well as for stricter data protection.
Under the committee's first-reading amendments, children below the age of 12 will be exempted from giving fingerprints. Children will also be allowed to send scanned photographs so they do not have to appear in person at the consulate.
In addition, Member States may allow exceptions from the requirement of collecting photographs and fingerprints (known as biometric identifiers) for holders of diplomatic passports.
In order to avoid all Member States having to install the necessary equipment for collecting biometrics in every consular office, the regulation allows Member States to cooperate with one or more EU countries in the creation of a joint centre in each country to deal with visa applications and the collection of biometrics.
In order to avoid all Member States having to install the necessary equipment for collecting biometrics in every consular office, the regulation allows Member States to cooperate with one or more EU countries in the creation of a joint centre in each country to deal with visa applications and the collection of biometrics.
20/11/2007
Chair : Philip Bradbourn (EPP-ED, UK)
Procedure: Co-decision, first reading
Plenary vote: Strasbourg, January
REF.: 20071119IPR13325