Members of the European Parliament approved on 4 April a new regulation to set common security standards for ID cards and residence documents issued to EU nationals. At present there are more than 250 different versions of identity cards and residence permits in circulation in the EU with various security features, which increases the risk of documents being falsified or used fraudulently.

Liberal and Democrat MEPs regard the new regulation as an important step forward to minimise document fraud, identity theft and in the fight against terrorism. The new cards will have a standardised format with two biometric identifiers (the facial image and two fingerprints) and the EU flag as a new feature. All these elements combined will facilitate the free movement of EU citizens, reduce administrative hassle and strengthen the internal security of the Union.

Gerard Deprez MEP and rapporteur of the file said:

"I would like to stress that this regulation does not allow for the creation of a European biometric database and provides no legal basis for creating one at national level. I particularly welcome the presence of a European symbol on identity cards and the reference to "EU Citizen" on the residence documents of the more than 15 million Europeans residing in another Member State."

New ID cards in the EU28 will have a standardised format with biometric identifiers and the flag as a new feature. Read our full PR here https://t.co/D6ITAP7sZm