News

Poland - The Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) is to announce a tender for up to eight strategic advisory companies for its forthcoming IT projects, Puls Biznesu has informed. The winners will work on feasibility studies and tender specifications for projects such as: w-PUAP (for the administrative services), PL.ID (electronic ID cards, to be launched in 2011), and the 112 alarm call and communication infrastructure for the emergency services. The ministry is prepared to spend nearly PLN 50m (€11.9m) on these advisory services.

UK - POLICE in Somerset hope to give deaf and hard of hearing people better access to emergency services, via a live video link.Avon and Somerset Police are taking part in an £8 million European project - called Reach 112 - to develop the technology for the video link over the next three years.

People can now reach emergency services from anywhere in the EU, simply by dialling 112, the single European emergency number. Now that 112 can be called from any phone in Bulgaria, it has achieved complete availability just before the Christmas period when thousands of people travel between EU Member States to visit family, hit the slopes or look for winter sun. It also crowns the combined efforts of the European Commission and EU Member States to make 112 fully available everywhere so that Europeans will always have a lifeline in the EU.

Sofia. Next week we'll be informed whether the European Commission (EC) will be pressing charges against our country for irregularities related to the functioning of the 112 emergency line.

Hannah's desperate attempt to contact the police by furtively dialling 999 on her mobile phone while in her abductor's car has revealed a technological deficiency in calling the emergency services.

Commissioner Reding announced that the Commission, the Parliament and the Council will organise a joint event on the European 112 Day  on 11 February 2009: "most EU citizens still do not know about 112. I will therefore continue to promote 112 as one of my priorities. There will be a special 112 event on the 11th of February (1-1-2) in 2009 organised together with the European Parliament and the Council."

Sofia -  Parliament passed at the second reading on November 14 2008 the law regulating the functioning of the National Emergency Call System with a single European phone number 112. A clause in the law envisions a fine of up to 20 000 leva for hoax calls, which would falsely activate the relevant emergency services in the country, Bulgarian-language media reported.

The European Commission officially announced on Friday, 24 October, 2008, the selection of the project REACH112 - Responding to all citizens needing help - that intends to improve the accessibility of the EU emergency services for people with disabilities as well as person-to-person communication. REACH112 is a project proposed by the EENA Advisory Board, launched as part of the 112 Excellence Centre concept that intends to support the upgrading of 112 emergency services and highlight them as best practices in Europe. France, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have been the 5 pilot countries selected for this 9 million Euros project.

The European Commission proposed legislation on establishing a Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN) to strengthen information-sharing on critical infrastructure protection between EU Member States.

Bulgaria's Parliament passed on October 18 at the first reading the draft bill of the law on European emergency number 112, which envisions a maximum fine of 20 000 leva for misuse of the emergency line.

­The European Commission has closed an infringement case against Poland for the lack of availability of caller location after the Polish authorities confirmed that it has been available for calls to the European emergency number 112 (the pan-Europe version of 911 / 999) since 30th June.

Sofia. The special investigation techniques issue has been raised during the discussion of the bill on 112 emergency telephone number, Focus News Agency reported.

The French department of Haute-Corse is planning to reorganise its management of emergency calls by gathering on a same platform the fire brigade (112 and 18) and the EMS (15-SAMU) in order to optimize the efficiency of call handing and interventions.

Sofia - The Ministry of Emergency Situations said on September 30 that the last two remaining regional centres for the Europe-wide emergency number 112 had gone into operation. With the two centres in Varna and Kurdjali operational, the country had met European Union requirements regarding the country-wide introduction of the general European emergency number, a ministry spokesperson told The Sofia Echo.

A number of emergency services experts are meeting to discuss ongoing work on IP-based emergency services in Vienna, Austria on 21st to 23rd October 2008. The first workshop day is focusing on tutorials to help those interested in the classical 1-1-2 emergency call to get up-to-speed with architectures and standards developed for next generation emergency calling. During the second day various recent activities of standardization organizations around the world will be presented. The third workshop day is dedicated to early warning standardization efforts and the outlook to future emergency services activities.

Participation from those working in standardization organizations as well as persons with interest into the subject is highly appreciated.
For socializing an evening program has been organized.

Sofia. Emergency line 112 would start operating as of 30 September this year, MEP Feliz Husmenova announced at the European Parliament. Husmenova also confirmed that the emergency centre would be accessible from across the country. In her words the system employed cutting-edge technologies allowing the immediate location of the troubled callers.

The European Parliament adopted a legislative report at first-reading aimed at providing wider access to telecoms services, more information for consumers and stronger data protection. All the major political groups in Parliament agreed a compromise before the plenary vote which does not alter the main goal of the draft legislation - to improve the position of telecom users - but they greatly clarify its aims, notably as regards protection of privacy and fundamental rights.

The European Commission granted Bulgaria a final extension of three months to deploy the single European emergency call number 112 all across its territory or else stand trial.

Brussels - The European Commission on Thursday opened legal proceedings against Italy over its failure to fully implement the European Union's common emergency phone number - 112. The EU executive, in its role of guardian of the bloc's treaties, also referred Bulgaria and Romania to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for similar failures.

EU executive warns Romania, Bulgaria and Italy over pan-European emergency number, and raps Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden over regulatory matters.

It is expected that tomorrow the European Commission will make a decision to file the first suit against Bulgaria in the European court.The reason is the emergency telephone 112, which is still not functioning in the country, a representative of the EC pointed out, cited by the Bulgarian National Radio.

The European Court of Justice Declared that the Republic of Lithuania has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 26(3) of Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services.

Providers of internet telephony must now allow emergency 999 calls over their networks or face the risk of enforcement action, regulator Ofcom has said.

The ruling follows a consultation in December last year after Ofcom research found that just over three-quarters of internet telephony users who cannot access emergency numbers, thought they could, or were unsure.

Today, the European Parliament will debate, in plenary session, the so-called EU Telecoms Reform, proposed by the Commission on 13 November 2007. Of particular importance in this debate will be the proposals made by the European Commission to give consumers of fixed and mobile phones and Internet services more rights and better choice (IP/07/1677). Today's debate among the European Parliament's 785 members is expected to pave the way for a vote of the Commission's entire EU Telecoms reform proposals in first reading on 23 September. The French presidency could broker a political agreement at the Council of Telecoms Ministers on 27 November. New consumer rights would then become law in all 27 EU Member States by 2010.

Sofia. The European Commission (EC) may soon initiate legal proceedings against Bulgaria with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) because of the emergency phone line 112, as the latter it unequally accessible across Bulgaria.

In an emergency, a phone call can mean life or death, and the last thing you want is to have to fumble for the right number. In the past, Croats had to memorise three separate numbers -- 92 for police, 93 for the fire brigade and 94 for medical personnel -- and it was easy to confuse them.

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

The health minister has called on citizens to be more active in using the available emergency services, speaking to Anatolia news agency over the weekend.

Burgas. Minister of Emergency Situations Emel Etem has announced in the seaside city of Burgas that 112 emergency telephone number will be launched in the city at the end of the week, Focus News Agency's correspondent reported.

Fines of up to BGN 20,000 for fake alerts made over the new emergency 112 phone line are included in the project for the new Law for the National Emergency Call System with an Unified European Number.

EENA is delighted to announce that MEP Alain Lamassoure has decided to join EENA Advisory Board. Alain Lamassoure is a French Member of the European Parliament (EPP-ED). Alain Lamassoure was Minister of European Affairs in France between 1993 and 1995 and Minister of Budget between 1995 and 1997.
In his report to the French President in June 2008 to prepare the French Presidency of the EU, M. Lamassoure requested strong actions to ensure that 112 is known and functions appropriately.

Sofia. The Bulgarian Council of Ministers adopted today a draft bill for the emergency line 112, the press office of the Ministry for Extraordinary Situations announced.

Netherlands - The abuse of the 112 emergency services telephone number rose last year despite a clampdown on those making false calls, the Nederlands Dagblad reports.

The new fire appliances will display both the UK emergency telephone number (999) and the Pan-European (112) emergency telephone number, to raise public awareness of the existence of the single European Emergency Telephone Number.

The European Emergency Number Association (EENA) announced today a new ongoing Europe-wide 112 Community Education project to promote awareness of the European Emergency Number - 112. The project will engage in a number of promotional efforts to educate the general public and promote specific educational outreach efforts for children, parents, teachers, and senior citizens.

Eleftherotypia News - This article reviews the recent activities related to 112 in the EU and the creation of the EENA Advisory Board to work on all aspects of this issue. The political support is highlighted, notably the support from Commissioner Viviane Reding who intends to reach 99% of knowledge next year. Published in Greece, the article indicates that there are high expectations on the work of Mrs. Michou from the European Commission DG Infso who is in charge of 112. There is also a review of the new European Commission 112 Website that shows clear disparities in time and accuracy on the information provided (or not) to the emergency services.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - Access to the European emergency number 112 via electronic communications, more transparent information on access and use of content on internet as well as on operators' tariffs, portable numbers when changing operator and a clearer definition of the principle of network neutrality: these are the main points of the report adopted on Monday by the EP Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection as part of the "telecoms package".

The Minister of Interior Patrick Dewael launched an information campaign on 112 in Belgium. In July and August, 112 information materials will be available in tourist areas such as stations and aiports.

As part of the Renewed Social Agenda, the Commission adopted today a proposal for a directive to facilitate the application of European patients' rights in relation to cross-border healthcare, as well as a Communication on improving co-operation between Member States in this area. Despite several clear European Court of Justice rulings confirming that the EU Treaty gives individual patients the right to seek healthcare in other Member States and be reimbursed at home, uncertainty remains over how to apply the principles of this jurisprudence more generally. With this proposal the Commission aims to provide legal certainty on this issue. This follows calls from both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers for the Commission to propose a specific initiative on cross-border healthcare, in a way explicitly adapted to, and respecting, the unique nature of the healthcare sector. In addition, the proposed Directive provides a solid basis to unlock the huge potential for European cooperation to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all EU health systems.

The European Commission has unveiled a healthcare package designed to make it easier for patients to get medical treatment elsewhere in the EU.

Disaster Management Minister Emel Etem said on June 13 that two more major call centres handling European emergency number 112 calls would become operational as early as on July 3 2008.

Krystian, 3 years-old, from Poland, received the Best Citizen 112 Award during the 112 Awards Ceremony on 3 June 2008. On 21 October 2007, Krystian called 112 and saved his mum who was in danger.

The formation by CEN of CEN BT/WG 161 'Protection and Security of the Citizen', clearly demonstrates the current feeling that standards activity may help reduce risks to European citizens from a range of hazards such as natural disasters and the increasing risk from terrorist attacks.
This requires agreements on the process of Disaster Management and on the interoperability of procedures and technology.
Indeed, troughout Europe, millions of people are working in emergency services, as professionals or volunteers. Most of them operate on the National level or Regional level. However, an increasing number of incidents and disasters occur in the border territory, requiring a close co-operation between the operations of various services in different member states, or indeed within the same Member State.
To improve this service, a Management system approach is very important, since this enables the various services and personnel to co-operate on a common basis within a single master process.

The EENA Advisory Board is proud to announce the second 112 Awards Ceremony. The second 112 Awards Ceremony will be held at the occasion of the joint European Parliament/European Commission event on 112 next 3 June 2008 in Brussels. Commissioner Reding has confirmed her participation to the event along with several other politicians. Please find more information on the link provided above.

Dr. Demetrios Pyrros, Chairman of EENA Advisory Board, participated to the Public Hearing organised by the European Parliament on the  Telecom Package last Tuesday 6 May.

Sofia. In June the European Commission will institute proceedings against Bulgaria because of the late start of the 112 emergency service. The announcement came in the middle of the week by emergency call center director Stoyan Gramatikov. Bulgaria made engagements for the 112 line to be operational in the beginning of 2007.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A Romanian man has been fined for making 6,442 profane phone calls to an emergency number, police said Thursday. The 24-year-old man, who lives in a village in southern Romania, was identified in February and fined $223 in April after a checkup showed he was mentally sound, said Daniela Salaoru, police spokeswoman for Ialomita county police.

According to Guido Bertolaso, director of the national Department of the Italian civil Protection, "Italy is the only Country of the European Union not to have adopted the European emergency number 112".

Take-up of intelligent car technologies remains very low, given their potential, says the Transport Committee in a report adopted on Tuesday. These technologies need to get cheaper, but also to be better publicised, it stresses, noting that if fully deployed, with the necessary infrastructure, EU-wide emergency call technology could save up to 2,500 lives a year on EU roads, and electronic stability control up to 4,000.

Bucharest - Romania has two months to solve problems over how their emergency services are contacted, the European Commission warns.

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission says it has sent Bulgaria and Romania a final warning, threatening to take both countries to court if they do not ensure that the 112 European emergency telephone number works properly.

In France, a woman died some weeks ago following inappropriate intervention of the EMS (SAMU).

United Kingdom - Following several years of discussion, the 101 non-emergency number has been dropped.

Brussels is planning to discuss starting penalty procedures against Bulgaria for the incorrect implementation of the Pollution Control and Prevention Directive. The measures are being considered because of violations of environmental law and because of the delay in implementing  the emergency number 112.

POLAND - The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration has announced that the new 112 emergency number will start operating in Poland by summertime.

ROMA - This articles describes the decision from the Italian authorities to upgrade the 112 services.

(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission on Wednesday relaunched an initiative to create an EU civil protection force to intervene anywhere in the world in case of a natural or man-made disaster.

For more information:

The European Parliament has adopted by a large majority the Written Declaration 100/2007 on Early Warning Systems of the population. This is a second major success at the European Parliament concerning the objectives promoted by EENA in favour of citizens' safety following the endorsement of the Written Declaration on the European Emergency Number 112 in September 2007.  

In a new round of infringement proceedings for Telecoms Rules, the European Commission has closed two cases against Latvia and Poland. The Commission has decided to also suspend its previous decision to refer a case to the European Court of Justice.

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 inexistence of number portability, the non-availability of caller location information for 112 emergency calls or the lack of a broadband strategy are also amongst the difficulties Romania will have to resolve. I am of course always available for a close dialogue with the Romanian government and the Romanian telecoms regulator to give EU support, where possible.

Cette plateforme qui centralisera - comme c'est déjà le cas - tous les appels d'urgence 15 - 18 et 112, est dotéé de nouvelles fonctions et permettra aux équipes médicales de régulation et aux pompiers de connaître à tout moment la nature des interventions ainsi que les moyens humains et matériels engagés.

Under the intiative of Members of the European Parliament, the first European 112 Day took place on 11.2.2008. A press conference was held at the European Parliament.

Under the intiative of EENA and with the support of sponsors, a 112 information campaign took place at the International Brussels Airport on 11.2.2008 at the occasion of the European 112 Day

EC figures show no improvement of the 112 knowledge within 8 years!

Belgium - The Center answering calls to 100 of Namur sent a complaint along with other centers on the financing of centers answering 100.

Bulgaria's Disaster Management Ministry said on January 31 it was accepting applications to fill 12 vacancies for the 112 emergency hotline operators in the southwestern part of the country.

The growth in VoIP is presenting a whole new set of challenges for the emergency services, as BAPCO Journal found out recently. Dan Worth reports from The London Fire Brigade Training Centre, the location for the South East Region conference, "What does VoIP offer?".

There is complete budget chaos in the introduction of a central 112 emergency number, mediapool.bg reported on November 16.

In Switzerland, less citizens call 118 by mistake since new measures have been implemented.

Bucarest - The Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, Karoly Borbely, presented a memorandum on the European Emergency Number 112.

Sofia. Unexpectedly, troubled Bulgarians in Hungary managed to call emergency number 112 in Sofia, the press office of the Ministry of State Policy for Disasters and Accidents announced.

In January 2008, the installation of Bulgaria's national 112 emergency number system would start with the installation of regional centres in Rousse, Bourgas, Varna, Montana and Plovdiv, a media statement from the Disaster Management Ministry said.

The European Commission was closely following the introduction of the united European emergency line 112 in Bulgaria and kept in touch with the Bulgarian authorities in order to take care that the line was introduced as soon as possible, Ministry of State Policy for Disasters and Accidents informed.

The EU has delayed releasing controversial proposals that would have made it easier for patients to travel abroad within the bloc for health care.

A new lobby group has been set up in an attempt to influence the regulation of Internet telephony in Europe.

European Commission's (EC) Communications Regulation Committee was preparing a questionnaire to request detailed information from all member states, including Bulgaria, regarding the introduction of the single European emergency number 112.

This documentary was broadcasted in the show "Envoyé Spécial" on France 2, French public TV Channel. It describes the issues related to emergency management in France.

Municipalities declared a state of emergency on purpose, even at the slightest rain so as to claim money from the state budget, Disaster Management Minister Emel Etem said on December 11 on Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

The answer of the European Commission follows a letter sent by EENA in which some problems related to multilingualism and awareness of 112 in Italy were revealed.

Belgium - 75% of emergency calls to 100 are non-appropriate calls.

From the 8th September 2008 VoIP providers will be required to allow users to make 999 / 112 emergency calls.

The Ponta Delgada Public Prosecutor in the Azores has ordered in inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the lack of assistance supplied to a 37-year old British woman who tried and failed on seven occasions to report her ordeal to 112 emergency number operators.

The European Commission has referred Poland and Latvia to the European Court of Justice and has opened an infringement proceeding against Romania to ensure that the single European emergency call number 112 works properly also in these countries.

The Commission will adopt a new coherent framework for cross-border healthcare. The draft directive clarifies to patients whether and under what circumstances they can choose providers abroad.