EU Warns Bulgaria and Romania Over Emergency Number Access
In a new round of infringement proceedings for EU Telecoms Rules, the European Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion (the second and final stage before the case is referred to the European Court of Justice) to Bulgaria and Romania. In both countries, the Single European Emergency number 112 is still not functioning properly. Meanwhile, two cases against Finland over the national regulator's powers have been closed, following national legislative amendments.
"A 112 European emergency number that works properly across the EU is crucial for ensuring the safety of our citizens. People caught in an emergency should be easily located when they dial 112 from their phones.” said Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner. "I therefore urge the Bulgarian and Romanian authorities to ensure the availability and proper functioning of 112.”
The EU's Telecoms Rules require Member States to make sure that emergency services can be called free of charge with the single European emergency number 112. They also have to ensure that telecoms operators provide the emergency authorities with information on the caller's location for 112 calls made from both fixed and mobile phones.
Bulgaria is being sent a reasoned opinion because 112 is still not available nationwide. While 112 is available in Romania, a reasoned opinion is being sent because caller location information is still not provided to the emergency services for mobile calls.
Caller location information for 112 calls from mobile phones is still not available in four other Member States: Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Slovakia. The infringement procedure for Poland was recently suspended to assess the progress made in practice.
The Commission has closed two pending cases against Finland following amendments to the Finnish Communications Market Act that entered into force on 1 January 2008. These amendments now give the National Regulatory Authority the legal basis and powers it needed to ensure effective competition and therefore meet the requirements of the EU Telecoms Rules.
Posted to the site on 14th April 2008
