Desperately needed improvement of awareness of Europe-wide emergency number

9.00.00am GMT Thu 11th Feb 2010

Awareness of '112' the Europe-wide emergency number remains low and there is a desperate need for improvement says local Lib Dem Euro MP Diana Wallis.

With figures due to be released today, Thursday, that show no improvement in awareness of the Europe-wide emergency number over the past year, Diana Wallis MEP, who is a European Parliament Vice President and a leading campaigner in raising awareness of the number, said:

"People are becoming increasingly mobile throughout the EU, yet awareness data of '112' the Europe-wide emergency number will show no improvement since 2009.

"This is clearly an issue which affects us all. This data (released by the European Commission on Thursday) is worrying to say the least. Less than one in four citizens know the "112" number - and this falls to one in twenty for the UK, Italy and Greece.

"In the past I piloted a written declaration through the European Parliament which achieved historic support amongst fellow MEPs. The Commission indicated it understood this and has included 112 in several recent initiatives. I am now calling on the new Commissioner responsible for the '112', Mrs Neelie Kroes, to redouble the Commission's efforts and to pressurise the Member States to show the necessary enthusiasm to take this issue forward."

"The European emergency number has been in place across the EU for over 15 years. It is about time national authorities and European institutions start raising awareness of it."

Note:

The 112 number does not replace national emergency numbers such as the UK's 999. Just 1% of emergency calls in the UK are directed through 112.

112 day is celebrated on 11 February (i.e. 11/2)

(Photo shows Diana at the 112 Awareness Campaign press conference on Thursday)