The purpose of biometric features - a photograph and ten fingerprints, as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization - is to enable the identity of visa applicants to be verified and to establish a reliable link between visa holders and their passports so as to prevent the use of false identities.
Parlamenta atbildīgā komiteja ir atbalstījusi neformālo vienošanos, kas koplēmuma procedūrā otrajā lasījumā panākta ar ES Padomi.