Brussels, 11/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - In future, children under 12 years of age will not have to give their fingerprints for passports within the Union, the civil liberties committee of the European Parliament agreed in a codecision report adopted on Monday 8 December. The parliamentary committee had been called upon to give its stance on changes to the 2004 regulation defining the biometric elements to be included in passports and other travel documents, including the holder's fingerprints. Members of the committee unanimously adopted the compromise negotiated between the rapporteur, Carlos Coelho (EPP-ED, Portugal), and the Council. The text stipulates that fingerprints should not be taken from children of under 12 years of age. However, countries that were already taking fingerprints from children under that age, but not below 6, can continue to do so for four years. The 12-year age limit is set provisionally pending other possible proposals from the European Commission. Should it be impossible to collect fingerprints, member states may issue a temporary passport with a period of validity below or equal to 12 months. Persons who are “physically unable” to give fingerprints will naturally be exempted from having to give their fingerprints. A vote is scheduled on the text next January, in Strasbourg. (B.C./transl.jl)