BRUSSELS: European Union interior ministers on Thursday agreed to develop travel documents that will include digital information about face features and fingerprints in an attempt to improve security during international travel.

The 15 EU nations now hope they can get the measures in place ahead of Oct 2004, when the United States will introduce stricter entry checks as part of their improved border security measures following the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"We are dialoguing with our American friends on this," said EU Commissioner Antonio Vitorino. The US administration has already delayed an initial deadline that was to run out this month.

The EU's executive Commission will now face a tight timeframe to make new proposals on the date of introduction of so-called biometrics features into all EU travel documents.

Biometric systems can reduce patterns of fingerprints, irises, voices and faces to mathematical algorithms that can be stored on a chip or machine-readable strip

Under the US Patriot Act, visitors from the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and Australia will have to have computer-readable passports to enter the United States after Oct 26 next year.

Travellers will be able to put their finger into digital scanners or stand in front of face recognition cameras linked to which will check the patterns on the biometric chips in the travel documents.

Vitorino insisted the EU was introducing to improve its own travel security. He said the introduction of the digital photograph would be a priority and said the EU had "some flexibility" on adding the fingerprints.

"The fingerprint is just a secondary element that can be used to clarify a misunderstanding," he said.

The date of entry into force will have to be negotiated again with the EU member states. -- AP