Statement by James SCOTT-HOPKINS, rapporteur, introducing the debate on the report on the creation of a Unique European emergency number - 112 during the plenary session of July 1990. It follows the EP's Environment Committee which has unanimously approved the introduction of the number 112.

112 - Unique European emergency number: extract from the debate

As the movement of citizens around the community grows steadily, calls have increased for a single emergency telephone number for all member states. Now, Parliament's Environment Committee has unanimously approved the introduction of the number one one two. To this end, reporting for the committee, Sir James Scott Hopkins.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, It is a very sensible suggestion coming forward, first of all, from this house and then from the Council in and out from the commission. In other words, it's got a very good pedigree. The idea of having an emergency number, which is known to all the citizens of the 12 member states and which can be used by all of them.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, May I make one thing quite clear, Mr. President, here there seems to be some confusion in some quarters that this number, 112, is not a replacement for. Those numbers, which are used at the moment in member states such as in my country and nine nine nine. This is a number which will go in parallel to those numbers, which member states have at the moment for emergencies.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, But it is very necessary, in my view, because at the moment, an awful lot of people don't know what to dial when they get into trouble in another European country, and particularly when they don't speak the language. And therefore, right there. This proposal is a very simple one and a very straightforward one.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, But like all straightforward and simple proposals, there are certain problems arising from it. The first one is the fact that in some countries at the moment, four of them, the 112, is not a spare line in eight of our member states it is as spare line and can be used straight away. But in sum, it is not. For instance, if you rang one one tomb in Italy, you would get the military police on your doorstep, or if you rang the same one in the Federal Republic of Germany, you would probably get the fire brigade chatting up. So there's got to be a certain amount of adjustment, which is going to be necessary to be done.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, And that brings me on to the next point. Because quite obviously, when you ring a number like one one to an emergency, you are going to ask for one of the three emergency services: police, ambulance or fire brigade. No, I don't think that will pose any problem to any operator in the 12 member states. It is the word fire, the word police, the word, the other word is no problem at all for an ambulance. I think that is understood.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, But of course, that's only part of the problem when you bring up. We then got to tell the operator where you are or is the operator will then ask you where you are. And it is absolutely true that most people, when they're in an emergency, are not terribly coherent. And so therefore, there this does pose and will press the problem.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, But as modern technology comes in, two things obviously have got to be done. First of all, with modern technology, when you ring on a digital number 112, one that is installed, that will tell the operator where you are telephoning from. But apart from that, quite obviously, a man has got to have operators who are linguistically well-trained. And that's going to take time.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, And so we come to the point with the amendments. And the members ask for really financial aid, because some countries, the four countries, particularly that is Spain and Portugal particularly, are going to need financial aid to bring their telecommunication system up to the standard required.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, And this is why there have been amendments that I have accepted to ask for financial aid for those countries that needed to bring that telephone communication system up to the right standard, also to train some of their operators in the need to be able to deal with the nine languages of the community.

SOUNDBITE (English) James SCOTT HOPKINS, I think, Mr. President, that is about all that needs to be said about this, except perhaps on the last amendment number nine. I have a feeling that Mr. Fitzsimon didn't know he's not here, didn't actually read I either the report, all the other amendments. But I'm going to accept all the amendments when we come to voting on them except number nine, which I shall refuse. I do hope that the House, when it comes to vote, will accept this modest proposal, this modest directive, as it is very necessary and will greatly increase the safety and security of all our citizens. Thank you.

112 - Unique European emergency number: extract from the debate

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