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European Court: ID decision (1)

01 January 1991

European Court: ID decision
artdoc July=1993

The European Commission on Human Rights concluded that the
Belgian mandatory identification is, in view of the data
registered on the identity card, not a violation of article 8
ECRM. Nor does it restrict the freedom of movement or violate
article 5(1)(b) ECRM. Only Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and
Spain oblige their citizens to carry a mandatory identification
cards. A Belgian citizen took a case to the court for violation
of article 8 (respect for private life). The Commission said that
since the card only contains information on a person's name, sex,
date and place of birth, address and (possibly) the spouse's
name, this does not affect private life. They could view that
question differently if the card contained a registration number
or a similar identifying code. Since the German and Danish cards
and the future Dutch and Irish cards contain such identifying
numbers or codes, this could mean that an appeal would be
admissible. European Commission of Human Rights 9 IX 1992: Case
of Reyntjens against Belgium (16810/90)

Statewatch vol 3 no 3 May-June 1993