Senate approves new deadline for issue of passports with fingerprints

Czechs will not be issued with passports which bear their fingerprints until April 2009. The government originally wanted to issue passports containing such biometric data as early as May of this year, but due to a hold-up at the European Union end, this date has now been put back. According to Interior Minister, Ivan Langer, the adjournment was not caused by the Czech Republic’s lack of preparation, but by a discussion within the European Union about what exact biometric data the passports should contain. On Wednesday, the Czech Senate approved a bill which delays the issue of such passports for another year.

Author: Rosie Johnston