Euro MP launches Written Declaration in call for more effective European emergency number

10.53.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 27th Apr 2007

More than 15 years ago, a single European emergency number (112) was set up by the then European Community as a way of reinforcing European people's participation in the Single Market.

However, at the present time, more than two thirds of Europeans are not aware of the 112 number. Also the actual placing of calls to 112 is not successful in the large majority of Member States.

Various requests from the European Parliament have fallen on deaf ears in the European Commission.

Local Euro MP, Diana Wallis, along with four other senior MEPs has launched a Written Declaration in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

This follows on from the recent launch of a so-called citizens' initiative in launching an electronic petition (www.112petition.eu) asking the European Commission to present, on its 50th anniversary, a much more professional 112 to European people.

At the launch of the Written Declaration, one of the MEPs leading the campaign, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Liberal Democrat, Diana Wallis, said:

"It is frankly disgraceful that although the 112 European emergency number has been around for many years it is that it is not working properly.

"Only 20% of British people know the number so they are totally exposed when they travel in Europe. This has to change especially as we are close to the time when millions of British holidaymakers travel throughout the EU for their summer holidays.

"The European Commission really has to get on with this and pursue the recalcitrant Member States to do whatever is necessary to protect our citizens.

"Evidence shows that the 112 Emergency number is not being properly promoted in all Member States nor has it proper technical interoperability and linguistic support everywhere.

"I am confident we can get the European Parliament behind our declaration in order to force some action."

Notes:

A written declaration is a text of a maximum of 200 words on a matter falling within the European Union's sphere of activities and needs to be signed by over half of the MEPs i.e. 392.

MEPs can use written declarations to launch or relaunch a debate on a subject that comes within the EU's remit.