On 14 November 2018 the European Parliament voted on a legislation to update the way emergency calls are managed in the EU. The telecommunications legislation – European Electronic Communications Code, or EECC – is one of the most important for European safety with provisions on public warning, emergency location, accessibility and more.
Following on the third anniversary of the Paris terrorist attacks, the European Parliament made modern public warning (or reverse 112) obligatory for all member states, in a landmark decision. Citizens in a high risk area will be able to receive an SMS or alert on their mobile phone in case of an emergency, informing them what is happening and how to remain safe.
The EECC is a binding legislation; all member states will need to implement it within two years (unless otherwise stated for specific provisions that require more time). The legislation also covers emergency caller location, accessibility for people with disabilities, access to 112 from online platforms, and more.
The European Emergency Number Association (EENA) has prepared a document summarising the legislation, focusing on the 112 service. You can download the briefing here.
Source: EENA
