US embassy cable - 05ROME510

UNCLAS  ROME 000510 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CMGT, PREL, IT, CPPT 
SUBJECT: VWP/ITALY: UPDATE ON 10/26/05 DEADLINE AND 
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 
 
REF:  STATE 23029 
 
1.  Summary:  The Consul General updated the GOI on the 
status of the U.S. biometric passport program and drew 
attention to the upcoming deadline for biometric 
passports for Visa Waiver countries at a February 14 
meeting with MFA Director General for Italians Abroad 
and Migration Siggia.  Siggia indicated that the recent 
passage of EU regulations on the subject obviated the 
need for further legislation in Italy.  Noting that 
Italy was the first EU country to produce a prototype 
biometric passport in December 2003, Siggia said Italy's 
implementation plan calls for the issuance of its first 
E-passports to diplomats in summer 2005.  Following an 
evaluation of this initial phase, the passports will be 
introduced at the larger issuance facilities.  Citing 
the logistical obstacles of training and equipping the 
322 Italian passport-issuance offices and consulates, 
full production is anticipated in 2007. End summary. 
 
2.  As instructed ref A, the Consul General delivered on 
February 14 the talking points on the U.S. biometric 
passport program and the VWP update on the October 26, 
2005 deadline, to MFA Director General for Italians 
Abroad and Migration, Sandro Siggia, and Counselor for 
Italians Abroad and Migration, Cristiano Maggipinto. 
 
3.  The Consul General briefed on the status of the U.S. 
biometric passport program and the implications of the 
Visa Waiver Program biometric passport deadlines. 
Regarding individual passports for children, Siggia did 
not believe this would be a problem.  The MFA had 
already asked all overseas consular posts to issue 
individual passports, including infants and children. 
The MFA had also sent a circular note to the Ministry Of 
Interior asking that they inform domestic passport- 
issuance offices to follow a "one passport, one person" 
policy.  Regarding the upcoming deadline for VWP 
travelers, the Consul General noted that the U.S. is 
working on a solution that meets border security goals 
while recognizing the practical problems associated with 
the deadline.  Siggia asked rhetorically why the U.S. 
was asking its friends to do something it would be 
unable to do.  That said, however, he stressed that 
Italy had been an early and strong supporter of 
biometric-enabled passports and would continue with its 
aggressive implementation of the program. 
 
4.  Siggia recalled that Italy had been the first EU 
country to issue a prototype of its biometric passport 
in December 2003.  This pilot project had demonstrated 
that the chip was not powerful enough.  The chip now has 
72 KB, and the second phase of implementation will 
commence in summer 2005, with biometric passports being 
issued to 400 diplomatic personnel. Siggia noted that in 
the last general meeting in Baltimore, the Italian 
passport was one of the few passports tested to be 
interoperable with the reading systems of most other 
countries. 
 
5.  Turning to Italy's time-line for implementation, 
Siggia described the difficulties inherent in the 
Italian passport-issuance system.  Siggia commented that 
the system worked very well.  It was "close to the 
people" and had a long-standing tradition and record of 
serving the people well.  Italian politicians would not 
consider changing it.  Italian citizens by law can apply 
for and receive passports at their local police 
headquarters (questura) or consulate, if living abroad. 
(Italy has a large number of nationals living in other 
countries.)  There are 103 police headquarters and 219 
consulates, and all must be equipped and trained. 
 
6.  Following the upcoming test phase with diplomats, 
the GOI will commence biometric passport production at 
the twelve largest domestic offices and the twelve 
largest consulates during the first semester of 2006. 
If the process moves smoothly, implementation will then 
spread throughout the other domestic offices and 
consulates.  Siggia stressed that the GOI wants to 
ensure that the new passport system is working properly, 
both technically and administratively.  The success of 
the project is too important for the passports to be 
issued precipitously.  The anticipated completion date 
is summer 2007 or perhaps a bit later. 
 
7.  Siggia assured us that Italy's governmental printing 
authority has the passport book and computer chip stock 
necessary for the program. There are no outstanding 
legislative issues since the EU passed its regulations 
on biometric passports in December 2004.  Earlier, the 
 
 
government had thought it would be necessary to make 
certain changes to the law, but that was no longer the 
case, since the EU rule had the force and effect of law 
in Italy.  The only remaining step is the issuance of a 
decree by Foreign Minister Fini, detailing the specific, 
additional technical requirements for the new passport. 
These requirements were mainly additional security 
features, Siggia explained. The decree would be issued 
soon. 
 
7.  Asked about budgetary issues, Siggia said there 
would be no budgetary problems for the passports issued 
in 2005.  Because of the significance of the biometric 
program, he did not anticipate significant budgetary 
problems in the future.  On the other hand, the training 
of personnel in production methods for the new passport 
and the installation of equipment will be difficult, 
because of the number of offices and the distances 
involved.  Connecting the entire issuance system to Rome 
also involves logistical issues, Siggia explained, but 
none that the MFA believes cannot be solved.  As 
described above, Siggia emphasized that his principal 
concern regarding timing was the difficulty posed by the 
diffuse passport production and issuance system. 
 
8.  Per ref A request para 7, Maggipinto provided us 
with the following information: 
 
NAME OF THE PROJECT MANAGER:  Dr. Stefano Petecchia, 
Senior Technical Manager of the State Police and Manager 
of the Information Systems for the Central Direction of 
the Criminal Police, in the Scientific Police Service of 
the Ministry of Interior 
 
TIMELINE FOR PILOT TESTING:  Summer 2005. 
 
ANTICIPATED DATE FOR FULL PRODUCTION: 2007 
 
STATUS OF PROCUREMENT EFFORTS AND/OR LEGISLATIVE 
CHANGES;  No legislative changes necessary, procurement 
is completed. 
 
ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT BE ANTICIPATED IN 
ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM.  The GOI does not currently 
anticipate problems beyond those described above. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2005ROME00510 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED