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According to a EU document presented by Statewatch in July 2006, The Visa Working Party on 13-14 June 2006 proposed another approach on the issue of the biometrics to be introduced on national ID cards.

The issue had met resistance back in February when several members of the European Council have expressed doubts especially as Belgium and the Czech Republic opposed to the measures proposed by EU, without a public debate.

In December 2005 the two governments gave a statement by which expressed their view that the introduction of biometrics into the ID national cards involved discussions of private life protection, financial and organizational issues, besides the technical aspect.

The report of the meeting of the Visa Working party state that Council's Legal Service "confirmed that as there is no legal basis in the Treaty governing these issues that could, indeed, be the way to take this matter forward!", meaning the Council has no legal powers to introduce the biometrics for national ID cards and leaving this issue at the decision of each member state.

The Conclusions of the Council, although non-binding, are however used to give legitimacy to the national measures thus paving the way for a "harmonized" approach when enough member states follow the standards.

Biometrics and national ID cards back on the table (07.2006)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2006/jul/09eu-id-cards.htm

Report from the Visa Working Party/Mixed Committee(13-14.06.2006)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2006/jul/10540-06.pdf

Commission to resurrect biometric ID cards? (02.02.2006)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2006/feb/02com-Id-cards.htm