EU takes legal action against Italy over emergency number

Tag : Emergency Call
The European Commission decided on Thursday to open a case againstItaly on the effectiveness of the single European Union (EU)emergency number 112.
EU telecoms rules require member states make sure that people cancall the single European emergency number 112 free of chargenationwide from any type of phone. They must also ensure that 112calls are answered and handled efficiently and that operatorsprovide information on the caller's location to emergency services.
The commission, the executive body of the EU and guardian of EUlaws, is sending a letter of warning to Italy about theeffectiveness of 112 calls handling and answering.
The various emergency response systems of many member states,including Italy, run separate call center systems using differentnumbers. Under EU rules, these member states have to ensure thatthe handling and answering of 112 calls is as effective as callsmade to other national emergency numbers.
In Italy, this is not always the case because call centers of theemergency service in charge of 112 calls cannot transfer callers tothe centers of other required emergency services, said thecommission.
Meanwhile, the commission also decided to take Bulgaria and Romaniato the European Court of Justice for the lack of availability of112 and for lack of caller location for 112 calls.
However, in view of ongoing efforts in both member states to make112 fully operational by the end of the year, the commission isdelaying the execution of Thursday's decision by three months togive them a last chance to address the matter.
Failure to fully comply with EU telecoms laws by the end of theyear will lead to the cases being filed with the European Court ofJustice, said the commission.
Despite previous warnings, 112 is still not operational nationwidein Bulgaria. In Romania, caller location, which helps emergencyservices find accident victims, is not provided for all calls.
"I expect the many political commitments made by Bulgarian andRomanian authorities to guarantee the full functioning of 112 to betaken very seriously," said EU Telecoms Commissioner VivianeReding.
"Their deadline for making 112 fully operational was Jan. 1, 2007.So today's decision to bring both countries before the Court ofJustice will be immediately executed if there is the slightestdoubt about full respect of EU law at the end of the year," shesaid.