Silvia Kolligs DG Justice and Home Affairs Unit B1 -Borders and Visas- E-mail: silvia.kolligs@cec.eu.int

Agenda Proposal amending Regulation (EC) 1683/1995 on a uniform format for visa and Regulation 1030/2002 on a uniform format for residence permits for third country nationals introducing biometric identifiers Proposal for a Regulation on common security standards including biometrics for EU citizens' passports Technical work carried out in the Article 6 Visa Committee

Uniform format of Visa

Commission proposal on the integration of biometric identifiers into the visa and residence permit (Sept 2003) to bring forward the final date for the implementation of the photograph from 2007 to 2005 and at the same time, require Member States to integrate biometric identifiers into the visa and the residence permit for third country nationals in a harmonised way(interoperability). provide for the mandatory storage of the facial image as a primary biometric identifier for verification (one-to-one checks at the border); an obligatory, second biometric identifier: fingerprint, provides the best solution for so-called “background checks”, in databases. Two flat fingerprints have been chosen as second mandatory biometric identifier in order to enable verification at the border post as an initial additional security element. Storage: on a storage medium (RF chip in compliance with ICAO)

“common approach” reached in the Council on 27 November 2003 Opinion of the European Parliament not yet available for the final adoption. Mandate for the Article 6 committee beginning with the technical work necessary for the implementation of the measures.

Common security features for the passports Commission proposal on common security standards including biometric identifiers into the EU citizen’s passport (Feb 2004) Common security features for the passports Mandatory biometric identifier (facial image) Optional biometric identifier (fingerprint)

TIMING Mandate of the European Council of Brussels in March 2004 to adopt the technical specifications in relation to the integration of biometrics in visa, residence permits and passports until end 2004!

Implementation for Visa and Residence Permits: Facial image- two years after the adoption of the technical specifications (end 2006) Fingerprints –three years after the adoption of the technical specifications (end 2007) Implementation for passports: one year after the adoption of the technical specifications (end 2005)

Biometrics in information systems SIS II, Schengen Information System VIS, Visa Information System in a second step (if possible from 2007)

Current work The Committee has decided to divide the work and to address three main issues: Firstly, how will the storage medium be integrated or “be part” of the visa and residence permit? (D) Secondly, what kind of storage medium is necessary for the sticker, and card models of the residence permits formats and how can they be made secure? (F) Thirdly what kind of hardware is necessary to enrol the facial image and the fingerprints and to subsequently store this information on the chip and read it at the border? (NL)

First meeting of Group two on 30 March 2004 in Berlin (next meeting 20 April) First meeting of Group one on 14 April in Paris Meetings provided for first presentation of possible solutions. Further discussion is necessary.