LUXEMBOURG - The European Union on Tuesday approved a European visa data system which will store biometric information like fingerprints and photos on 70 million visa-holders who pass through the EU's borderless travel zone each year.
卢森堡 - 欧盟星期二批准建立一个全欧洲的签证数据系统。这个系统会用于存储无国界的全欧盟范围内7000万签证持有者的生物信息如指纹，和照片等。

The agreement reached by EU justice and interior ministers will set up a common EU database which can be accessed by all 15 EU nations participating in the so-called Schengen borderless travel area.
欧盟各国司法部长和内务部长们达成协议建立一个15个申根协议国共享的数据库。

"Our plans are to make the visa information system operational by spring 2009," said EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini.
欧盟司法委员Franco Frattini说：系统预计2009年春天投入运行。

EU officials said the system will be the world's largest database of its kind containing fingerprints and photographs of people applying or holding a Schengen visa.
欧盟官员说：这个系统是世界上最大的保存指纹和照片的系统。

Frattini said the new system will "offer a new practical tool both for consulates and border checkpoints," to stop and apprehend criminals or terrorists at the EU's external borders.

The new system beefs up （加强） security and aims to prevent identity fraud of travel visas issued by EU nations.
新系统可以加强安全，防止旅游签证伪造现象。

The visa data contained on the system will contain the name, address, and occupation of the visa applicant or holder. It will also include the date and place of the application and any decision taken by the country responsible to issue, reject, or extend the visa.

Citizens of more than 100 countries need a visa to enter the EU.
100多个国家的公民需要申请签证方可进入欧盟。

Authorities from the EU member states and Europol, the Europe-wide law enforcement organization, may access the data in specific cases if it can help investigate terrorist or serious criminal offenses.
如果对调查恐怖分子和严重刑事犯罪有帮助，欧盟成员国，欧洲刑警组织，全欧洲范围内的执法机构可以查询数据库。