Member states may face legal action over EU-wide emergency number

The European commission has threatened member states with possible legal action if it does not do more to promote the EU-wide 112 emergency number.

The number has been used alongside 999 since 1991.

But a recent survey showed that only 22 per cent of EU citizens, and six per cent of Britons - a lower proportion of recognition than anywhere else except Greece - even know the 112 number exists at all.

The highest recognition factor, in Poland, is only 56 per cent.

The commission recently held a ‘European 112 Day’ to promote awareness and is now urging the EU member states to mount a publicity drive to make more aware of the number.

It has also called on EU countries to guarantee the effective functioning of the 112 service by introducing ‘integrated’ emergency centres, where operators and staff would be required to speak in several languages.

The EU says member states are required to ensure that emergency services are able to establish the location of a person calling 112 but that some are failing to do this.

It has sent a questionnaire to all EU countries requesting details on how 112 is functioning and what each is currently doing to promote the number.

The commission warns that infringement proceedings will be taken against those countries ‘failing to comply with their obligations’.

Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden have already scrapped their own emergency numbers for 112.

The commission says the number is designed to run alongside national systems and that there are no plans to scrap national emergency numbers, like 999 in the UK.

But Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said, “The logical conclusion of an expensive promotional campaign is that, ultimately, 112 will replace 999 and other national emergency numbers.This is a barmy idea and demonstrates the extent to which the EU now dominates every aspect of our lives.”

He added: “It is argued that 112 should work in tandem with 999. But there is no doubt that 112 will, in time, replace 999. This is part of continued efforts by our masters in Brussels to force us to lose all trace of individuality and live in a uniform EU.

“The 999 system in the UK is perfectly satisfactory and there’s nothing wrong with it. Any switch to 112 could actually cause more deaths because the public, particularly older people, will still remember 999, and not 112, if they have to call the emergency services.”

Tory MEP Martin Callanan, agrees, saying, “A move towards a harmonisation of emergency numbers in all countries is, clearly, the way the commission is heading.

“112 has existed since 1991 but hardly anyone, myself included, knows about it. So why not just stick with 999, the number everyone knows and understands?

“We are used to 999 and if an alternative number is offered it could cause confusion with serious implications.”

Diana Wallis, a Liberal Democrat MEP, said: “The 112 number was introduced some 17 years ago so it is about time the national authorities starting raising awareness of it, and evaluating how appropriately 112 calls are handled in the member states.”

Viviane Reding, EU commissioner for information society, said it would be best if citizens in 27 member states all used 112.

She said, “Citizens should be able to call the same emergency number wherever they travel in Europe and I am calling on all member states to join in an active promotion campaign for 112.”

A commission spokesman said, “When the number was introduced the aim was to provide just one number to call in the case of emergency in all EU member states.”

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