VWP/ITALY: UPDATE ON 10/26/05 DEADLINE AND

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.

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2005ROME00510 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED