The European Commission took another step toward including biometrics on passports

by adopting technical specifications on electronic fingerprint storage. Member states have 36 months to begin storing such biometric data in newly issued passports. Based on a decision last year, they have until 28 Aug 2006 to begin storing facial images, a deadline that, if met, would allow member states to meet a United States requirement "for the Visa Waiver countries to issue biometrically enabled passports by Oct 2006."