EU applies pressure on 112 availability

 

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Posted on 4 Jun 2008 at 12:19

The European Commission has stepped up its efforts to increase availability and awareness of the EU-wide 112 emergency number.

A survey completed in February showed that only 22% of EU citizens know that in an emergency they can call 112 in any member state. So the Commission has launched a new website - 112: The European emergency number with information about emergency call provision and performance.

UK citizens travelling abroad will find that seventeen countries - Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden - can handle 112 calls in English.

Bulgaria, by contrast may not even be able to handle them in its own language: 112 is still not fully available, particularly outside the capital Sofia.

The EU is currently taking action against this and other states that have yet to meet the 112 requirement. Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Slovakia are yet to support caller location for 112 calls on mobiles, while another nine countries have yet to provide provide information on the time it takes to answer calls.

EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said that she expects quick action to remedy these shortcomings.

"While 112 is now available in all but one country across the EU, I call on Member States to make 112 better known and more effective," she said. "All EU citizens should know they can dial 112 to reach emergency services. I especially urge those Member States yet to introduce caller location, which helps emergency services find accident victims, to do so for all 112 calls as soon as possible."

The European emergency number 112 was introduced in 1991 and since 1998 member states have had to ensure that all fixed and mobile phone users can call 112 free of charge and that they provide caller location information to emergency services so that they can find accident victims quickly. EU Member States must also raise citizens' awareness of 112.

Author: Simon Aughton