This document is the first issue of the BIOVISION roadmap for the future of biometrics in Europe through to 2010. It offers a portfolio of techniques, viewpoints and scenarios to support future initiatives by national and European research organisations. A list of 38 prioritised research challenges forms the set of recommendations to the European Commission to support further R&D in these key technologies. Many of the recommendations look forward to the work programme of the European Biometric Forum.