'112' number is as 'vital as your passport' says Liz Lynne MEP
February 11, 2009 12:00 AM
Speaking on the European Emergency Number - '112' Day, West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne has branded the '112' number vital for people traveling throughout Europe.
The '112' number allows people to be transferred to the emergency services of any country in Europe, meaning that when they travel they only need remember one number.
However, recent research shows that less than one in four people in Europe can easily recall the '112' number, and in the UK this number drops to only one person in twenty.
Liz Lynne, who has campaigned along with her LibDem colleagues in the European Parliament to raise awareness of the number, today underlined just how important the number can be:
"With people becoming increasingly mobile throughout the EU, this is clearly an issue which affects us all. When traveling in the rest of Europe knowing the number is as vital as having your passport.
"I am deeply concerned by the latest research showing just how few people in the UK know about the number.
"The written declaration that I signed in the European Parliament achieved historic support amongst fellow MEPs. The Commission has understood this and has included 112 in several recent initiatives, but Member States are still not showing the necessary enthusiasm to take this issue forward. Indeed several have even gone to court over the matter rather than making the necessary investments.
"The European emergency number was introduced across the EU over 15 years ago, so it is about time national authorities and European institutions start raising awareness of it, and evaluating how appropriately 112 calls are handled in the Member States."
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