Abstract;Judgment — ECLI:EU:C:2024:251
Date: 2024-03-21
Language of the case: German
Court formation: Grand Chamber
Subject matter: Citizenship of the Union;Principles, objectives and tasks of the Treaties;Area of freedom, security and justice;Fundamental rights;Data protection;Charter of Fundamental Rights
Procedure: Reference for a preliminary ruling
Origin: Germany

Summary C-61/22 – 1 
Case C-61/22 
Summary of the request for a preliminary ruling pursuant to Article 98(1) of 
the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice 
Date lodged: 
1 February 2022 
Referring court: 
Verwaltungsgericht Wiesbaden (Germany) 
Date of the decision to refer: 
13 January 2022 
Applicant: 
RL 
Defendant: 
Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden 
  
Subject matter of the main proceedings 
Taking of fingerprints and storing them in identity cards – Article 3(5) of 
Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 – Validity – Procedure for adopting the regulation – 
Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – 
Article 35(10) of the General Data Protection Regulation 
Subject matter and legal basis of the request 
Validity of Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157; Article 267 TFEU 
Question referred for a preliminary ruling 
Does the obligation to take fingerprints and store them in identity cards in 
accordance with Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of 
identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union 
EN 
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citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement 
(OJ 2019 L 188, p. 67) infringe higher-ranking EU law, in particular 
(a) Article 77(3) TFEU 
(b) Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter 
(c) Article 35(10) of the GDPR 
and is it therefore invalid on one of those grounds? 
Provisions of EU law relied on 
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union: Articles 7, 8 and 52; 
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Articles 21, 77 and 289; 
Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and 
of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members 
exercising their right of free movement: recitals 2, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 40 and 41, 
and Articles 3 and 11; 
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of 
personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 
95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation): Articles 9 and 35. 
Provisions of national law relied on 
Gesetz über Personalausweise und den elektronischen Identitätsnachweis (Law on 
identity cards and electronic proof of identity; ‘the PAuswG’): Paragraphs 5 and 
9. 
Succinct presentation of the facts and procedure in the main proceedings 
1 The applicant seeks the issuance of an identity card without his fingerprints being 
taken. The defendant refuses to comply with that request, on the ground that 
Paragraph 5(9) of the PAuswG, which is based on Regulation (EU) 2019/1157, 
provides for the mandatory taking of two fingerprints. 
2 Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 has applied since 2 August 2021. Article 3(5) of 
Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 provides that identity cards issued by Member States 
are to include a storage medium which is to contain a facial image of the holder of 
the card and two fingerprints in interoperable digital formats. German law also 
contains provisions on the inclusion of fingerprints in identity cards 
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(Paragraph 5(9) of the PAuswG), whereby, as shown by the explanatory 
memorandum to that law, the German legislature proceeded on the assumption 
that fingerprints were to be included in accordance with Article 3(5) of Regulation 
(EU) 2019/1157. 
3 On 30 November 2021, the applicant applied for a new identity card – without 
fingerprints – because the chip in his old identity card was defective. The issuance 
of a new card was refused on the ground that the inclusion of fingerprints had 
been mandatory since 2 August 2021. Moreover, the applicant was not entitled to 
the issuance of a new identity document, since he was already in possession of a 
valid identity document. An identity card continues to be valid even with a 
defective chip. 
4 The authority responsible for issuing identity cards under German law acts as a 
threat-prevention authority. Nevertheless, the issuance of identity cards and the 
related data processing is not in fact subject to Directive (EU) 2016/680, but rather 
the General Data Protection Regulation (‘the GDPR’), as can be inferred from 
recital 40 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157. Therefore, in the present case, the 
Oberbürgermeister (Mayor) is not acting in the field of EU law on the prevention 
of threats, which is to be interpreted autonomously. Under Article 1(1) and 
Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2016/680, the latter is applicable only where 
authorities act for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or 
prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, including 
the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security. Those 
purposes do not cover the passport and identity card system. 
Succinct presentation of the reasoning in the request for a preliminary ruling 
5 A ruling on the question referred is necessary in order for judgment to be given. If 
Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 infringes higher-ranking EU law, the 
applicant is entitled to be issued an identity card without the inclusion of 
fingerprints (first sentence of Paragraph 9(1) of the PAuswG). The national 
regime in Paragraph 5(9) of the PAuswG would lose its basis, as it would infringe 
EU law. 
6 Even if the applicant’s old identity card continues to be valid despite the defective 
chip in accordance with Paragraph 28(3) of the PAuswG, the applicant must be 
issued with a new identity card after the expiry of the 10-year period of validity at 
the latest. Moreover, in accordance with Paragraph 6(2) of the PAuswG, the 
applicant may apply for a new identity card before the expiry of the validity of an 
identity card if a legitimate interest in the reissue is demonstrated. In the case of a 
defective chip, it is no longer possible to use the online ID function. The use of 
automated border control systems is also no longer possible. That limited 
possibility of use must be regarded as giving rise to a legitimate interest in the 
issuance of a new identity card. 
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7 The referring court has doubts as to whether Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 
2019/1175 is compatible with EU law. Those doubts are based on the fact that 
Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 was adopted in the ordinary legislative procedure, on 
the compatibility of Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 with Articles 7 
and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘the Charter’) 
and on the lack of a decision on the weighing of interests pursuant to 
Article 35(10) of the GDPR. 
8 The referring court takes the view that Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 should have 
been adopted in accordance with the special legislative procedure under Article 77 
TFEU. 
9 The TFEU distinguishes between the ordinary legislative procedure and the 
special legislative procedures in Article 289. Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 was 
based on Article 21(2) TFEU and adopted in accordance with the ordinary 
legislative procedure. According to Article 21(2) TFEU, the European Parliament 
and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, may 
adopt provisions with a view to facilitating the exercise of the right to free 
movement, if action by the Union should prove necessary to attain this objective 
and the Treaties have not provided the necessary powers. 
10 The first sentence of Article 77(3) TFEU contains a further rule regarding 
competence that relates, inter alia, to provisions concerning identity cards. 
According to that rule, the Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative 
procedure, may adopt provisions concerning passports, identity cards, residence 
permits or any other such document, if action by the Union should prove 
necessary to facilitate free movement, and if the Treaties have not provided the 
necessary powers. The Council is to act unanimously after consulting the 
European Parliament. That requirement of unanimity leaves the maximum 
possible degree of sovereignty to the Member States in this area. 
11 Article 77 TFEU corresponds to the former Article 62 TEC (EC Treaty). At the 
time of its adoption, Regulation (EC) 2252/2004, Article 1(2) of which provides 
that fingerprints are to be stored in passports, was based by the legislature on 
Article 62 TEC. By judgment of 17 October 2013, Schwarz (C-291/12, 
EU:C:2013:670), the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘the Court’) held 
that Article 62(2)(a) TEC was an appropriate legal basis for adopting Regulation 
No 2252/2004 and, in particular, Article 1(2) thereof. 
12 The competence under Article 77(3) TFEU takes precedence over Article 21(2) 
TFEU, since Article 77(3) TFEU, as a more specific provision in terms of content, 
imposes more stringent requirements on the legislative procedure, and 
Article 21(2) TFEU is relevant only if the Treaties have not provided other powers 
necessary to attain the objective of facilitating freedom of movement. Although 
Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 does not refer to the further development of the 
Schengen acquis, it intends, like Regulation (EC) 2252/2004, the approximation 
of security features and the integration of biometric identifiers as an important 
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step towards the use of new elements in the perspective of future developments at 
European level. As in the case of Regulation (EC) 2252/2004, those developments 
are intended to render the travel document more secure (in casu: identity cards 
instead of passports). 
13 In the light of the foregoing, the referring court takes the view that the effective 
adoption of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 – and thus also of Article 3(5) thereof – 
would have required the special legislative procedure pursuant to Article 77(3) 
TFEU. 
14 In addition, there are doubts as to the compatibility of the taking and storing of 
fingerprints in identity cards with Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter. 
15 According to Article 7 of the Charter, everyone has the right to respect for his or 
her private and family life, home and communications. Under Article 8 of the 
Charter, everyone has the right to the protection of personal data concerning him 
or her. 
16 Already in the judgment of 17 October 2013, Schwarz (C-291/12, 
EU:C:2013:670, paragraphs 27 and 30), the Court, referring to the judgment of the 
ECtHR of 4 December 2008, S. and Marper v. the United Kingdom (Reports of 
judgments and decisions 2008-V, p. 213, §§ 68 and 84), stated that the taking of 
fingerprints and storing of them in passports by the national authorities which is 
governed by Article 1(2) of Regulation No 2252/2004 constitutes a threat to the 
rights to respect for private life and the protection of personal data. Fingerprints 
constitute personal data, as they objectively contain unique information about 
individuals which allows those individuals to be identified with precision. The 
same fundamental rights are also affected in the taking and storage of fingerprints 
for identity cards. 
17 The referring court has doubts as to whether the taking of fingerprints, and thus an 
interference with Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter, in particular with regard to 
Article 52 and Article 8(2) of the Charter, is also justified in the case of identity 
cards. Article 8(2) of the Charter provides that personal data cannot be processed 
except on the basis of the consent of the person concerned or some other 
legitimate basis laid down by law. 
18 In the present case, the referring court takes the view that persons applying for 
identity cards have not consented to having their fingerprints taken – as held by 
the Court in relation to passports. However, Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 
2019/1157 establishes the taking of fingerprints as a legal rule for all identity 
cards. 
19 According to the first sentence of Paragraph 1(1) of the PAuswG, all Germans are 
obliged to possess a valid identity card as soon as they reach the age of 16 and are 
subject to the general obligation to register or, without being subject to it, are 
predominantly resident in Germany. Therefore, the mandatory taking of 
fingerprints is prescribed for the issuance of that document. As there is an 
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obligation to possess an identity card, persons applying for identity cards cannot 
be deemed to have consented to such data processing (see also CJEU, judgment of 
17 October 2013, Schwarz, C-291/12, EU:C:2013:670, paragraph 31). 
20 Therefore, a legitimate legal basis is required, in accordance with Article 52(1) of 
the Charter. 
21 It is true that the inclusion of fingerprints in identity cards is provided for by law 
in Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157. This also corresponds, at least in 
part, to the objectives of general interest recognised by the Union, as expressed in 
recitals 1, 2, 4, 18 and 46. 
22 Within the European Union, identity cards can be used in the context of border 
crossing. In addition, States that are not part of the European Union also allow 
entry by means of identity cards, such as, in particular, Switzerland, Iceland, 
Norway, Albania and Montenegro. Against that background, identity cards are at 
least also used as travel documents, with the result that the regime also serves the 
purpose of preventing illegal entry from those countries. This would constitute an 
objective of general interest recognised by the Union (CJEU, judgment of 
17 October 2013, Schwarz, C-291/12, EU:C:2013:670, paragraph 38). However, 
identity cards are precisely not intended primarily to serve as travel documents in 
the Schengen area, like passports. In that respect, the recitals of Regulation (EU) 
2019/1157 rightly do not refer to the Schengen area, as an area of freedom, unlike 
those in Regulation 2252/2004. 
23 Nor does Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 regulate the use of the stored biometric data 
in that sense, in so far as Article 11(6) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 states that 
the stored biometric data may be used for the purpose of verifying authenticity or 
the identity of the holder. Consequently, Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 leaves open 
the question as to how freedom of movement is to be facilitated. In that respect, 
the objective of preventing illegal entry cannot be equated with the facilitation of 
freedom of movement. 
24 However, even if the regime were to pursue an objective of general interest, there 
are doubts as to whether Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 is 
proportionate. This would be the case only if the limitations placed on those rights 
under the Charter are proportionate to the aims pursued by Regulation (EU) 
2019/1157 and, by extension, to the objective of preventing illegal entry into the 
European Union and of enabling the reliable identification of the identity card 
holder. To that end, the measures implemented by that regulation must be 
appropriate for attaining those aims and must not go beyond what is necessary to 
achieve them (CJEU, judgment of 17 October 2013, Schwarz, C-291/12, 
EU:C:2013:670, paragraphs 38 and 40). 
25 In that respect, the referring court takes the view that it must be taken into account 
that identity cards cannot be equated with passports in fact and in law, but, rather, 
there are clear differences with regard to the use of those documents. 
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Nevertheless, Article 3(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 treats the two documents 
equally with regard to fingerprints. 
26 It is true that identity cards can also be used as travel documents – as already 
explained above. Nevertheless, identity cards and passports differ in both legal 
and practical respects. Even if identity cards are also used as travel documents in 
the context of freedom of movement, there are no routine checks, at least when 
travelling between EU Member States. Moreover, for most Union citizens, the 
primary function of the national identity card is unlikely to be linked to freedom 
of movement. This is because identity cards have uses that go beyond freedom of 
movement. For example, identity cards are used in everyday life for interactions 
with national administrative authorities or with private third parties, such as banks 
or airlines. Union citizens wanting to exercise their freedom of movement can 
already do so using their passport (see also, to that effect: Opinion of the 
European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on the planned introduction of the 
storage of fingerprints in identity cards of 10 August 2018). 
27 In addition, there is an obligation to possess an identity card in Germany (first 
sentence of Paragraph 1(1) of the PAuswG). By contrast to passports, citizens 
cannot make their own decision as to whether or not to apply for an identity card. 
The EDPS also considers that the taking and storage of fingerprints would have a 
wide-ranging impact on up to 370 million Union citizens, potentially subjecting 
85% of the EU population to a mandatory fingerprinting requirement. This wide 
scope, combined with the very sensitive data processed (facial images in 
combination with fingerprints) calls for close scrutiny according to a strict 
necessity test. The referring court concurs with the consideration of the EDPS 
that, given the differences between identity cards and passports, the introduction 
of security features that may be considered appropriate for passports to identity 
cards cannot be done automatically, but requires reflection and a thorough 
analysis. This did not take place in this case. 
28 The referring court takes the view that, in combination with the broad possibilities 
of use described above and the large number of Union citizens affected, there is a 
much greater intensity of interference in comparison with passports, which, in 
return, also requires stronger justification. 
29 In the context of the interpretation of Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter, account must 
also be taken of the principles of the GDPR, as follow from recitals 1 and 2 
thereof. 
30 Dactyloscopic data constitute special types of personal data according to 
Article 9(1) of the GDPR, namely biometric data. Such data are defined in 
point 14 of Article 4 of the GDPR as personal data resulting from specific 
technical processing relating to the physical, physiological or behavioural 
characteristics of a natural person, which allow or confirm the unique 
identification of that natural person, such as facial images or dactyloscopic data. 
In accordance with Article 9(1) of the GDPR, the processing of such biometric 
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data is in principle prohibited and is permitted only in narrowly defined 
exceptional cases. 
31 In so far as fingerprints are to be included in identity cards in order to reinforce 
security against forgery, the EDPS Opinion on the planned introduction of the 
storage of fingerprints in identity cards states that it has been reported that only 
38 870 fraudulent identity cards have been detected in the years 2013-2017 and 
that the use of fraudulent identity cards has been decreasing for years. 
32 It is not sufficiently clear from the outset whether the inclusion of fingerprints is 
in fact capable of reinforcing security against forgery. A match between biometric 
data stored in the chip of the identity card and the fingerprints of the holder of the 
identity card merely confirms that the document belongs to the document holder. 
That match does not as such constitute proof of identity unless the identity card 
itself has been proved to be authentic. It is true that it is acknowledged that the use 
of biometric data reduces the likelihood of a document being successfully forged, 
with the result that the inclusion of fingerprints may at least partially serve to 
achieve the purpose. 
33 However, it appears to be highly questionable whether that possibility is able to 
justify the far-reaching interference, especially given that identity cards with a 
defective chip also continue to be valid under German law, contrary to Regulation 
(EU) 2019/1157. In that regard, the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der 
Informationstechnik (Federal Office for Information Security) states that ‘an 
identity card with a non-functional chip remains valid, even if the integrated chip 
is manifestly defective. Its security as an identity document is afforded by the 
physical security features’. However, if security is provided solely by the physical 
security features (in particular microprints, UV overprints, etc.), the question as to 
the necessity of including fingerprints arises all the more clearly. 
34 The EDPS also stressed that security printing techniques, such as the use of 
holograms or watermarks, have a much lower intensity of interference. It stated 
that such techniques do not involve the processing of personal data but may allow 
forgery to be prevented and the authenticity of a document to be verified. 
35 In that context, one of the most important principles of European data protection 
law must also be observed: the principle of data minimisation. According to that 
principle, the collection and use of personal data must be proportionate and 
necessary and limited to what is necessary for the purposes for which they are 
processed. 
36 In the event that it is necessary to take fingerprints, the question also arises as to 
why it is necessary to take the entire print. It is true that this facilitates 
interoperability among the various types of fingerprint recognition systems. Those 
systems can be divided into three sub-categories. First, there are systems that store 
and compare complete images of fingerprints. Other systems use what are referred 
to as minutiae. These describe a subset of the characteristics extracted from 
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fingerprint images. The third category are systems that work with individual 
patterns extracted from fingerprint images. In the event that only minutiae were 
stored, a Member State working with a system that uses an image of the entire 
fingerprint would not be able to use them. Storing the entire fingerprint facilitates 
interoperability, but increases the amount of personal data stored and thus the risk 
of identity theft in the event of a data leak. 
37 The RFID chips used in identity cards can potentially also be read by unauthorised 
scanners. This is because they are activated via a radio field and subsequently 
transmit data in encrypted form. Thus, the security of the procedure ultimately 
depends on the quality of the transmission and encryption technology. It is 
precisely the use of the entire fingerprint that has the effect of increasing risk in 
this context. 
38 In that regard, it must also be noted that fingerprints are biometric data. The 
legislature has shown, inter alia by introducing Article 9 of the GDPR, that such 
data are subject to special protection. 
39 Even Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 dispenses with the fingerprint ‘security feature’ 
for children under the age of 12 years and completely exempts children under the 
age of 6 years from the requirement to give fingerprints (Article 3(7) of 
Regulation (EU) 2019/1157). Much more importantly, however, persons in 
respect of whom fingerprinting is physically impossible are exempt from the 
requirement to give fingerprints. What purpose that security feature is then 
supposed to serve is not regulated and is simply left open in Regulation (EU) 
2019/1157. 
40 The EDPS also stresses in its opinion that Article 35(10) of the GDPR applies to 
the collection and processing of fingerprints. In accordance with Article 35(1) of 
the GDPR, a data protection impact assessment must be carried out prior to 
processing which is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of 
natural persons. That data protection impact assessment should contain, in 
particular, an assessment of the risks to the rights and freedoms of data subjects 
and the measures envisaged to address the risks, including safeguards and security 
measures. 
41 Since the legal basis is in EU law, to which the controller is subject, and since that 
legislation regulates the specific processing operation, the general impact 
assessment must be carried out in the context of the adoption of that legal basis 
(Article 35(10) of the GDPR). Such an impact assessment should therefore have 
been carried out when Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 was adopted. As is apparent 
from the recitals, this did not take place. 
42 The referring court, like the EDPS in its opinion, takes the view that the impact 
assessment would not support the mandatory inclusion of both a facial image and 
(two) fingerprints in identity cards. Already during the legislative procedure, the 
EDPS recommended that the necessity and proportionality of the processing of 
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biometric data (facial image in combination with fingerprints) be reassessed 
against that background. 
43 In recital 40 of the GDPR, the legislature addresses that issue in relation to the 
GDPR only in very general terms. They amount to nothing more than vague 
statements, such as, for example, the statement that Union citizens should be made 
aware of the storage medium and that it is necessary to further specify safeguards 
applicable to the processed personal data and in particular to sensitive data such as 
biometric identifiers. The storage medium should be highly secure and effectively 
protect personal data stored on it from unauthorised access. It remains unclear 
what is meant by ‘highly secure’ and what form the safeguards and security 
measures are to take. In particular, a balancing of the risks of data leaks from 
chips and the encroachment on Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter is not apparent. 
44 The question therefore arises as to whether it is possible for failure to carry out a 
mandatory risk impact assessment not to affect the effectiveness of a rule or 
whether, on the contrary, where the legislature is under a mandatory obligation to 
carry out a risk impact assessment, failure to do so must lead to the invalidity of 
the rule. Otherwise, the legislature would be rewarded for its wrongdoing.