No C 275/A Official Journal of the European Communities 1. 11. 90 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision on the introduction of a standard Europe-wide 
emergency call number 
COM(90) 426 final — SYN 223 
(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 5 October 1990) 
(90/C 275/05) 
(6) Whereas the introduction of new technologies into 
the public telephone networks and the coordinated 
introduction of advanced telecommunications infra­
structures present a unique opportunity for the 
implementation of a standard Europe-wide 
emergency call number, in parallel to the existing 
national emergency call numbers as appropriate; 
(7) Whereas the Commission has called the attention of 
the Council to this problem ('); 
(8) Whereas the Council at its meeting of 30 June 1988 
has recognized that the objective of a standard 
Europe-wide emergency call number is important 
for Europe's citizens; 
(9) Whereas the Council in its resolution of 
13 February 1989 on the new developments in 
Community cooperation on civil protection has 
stressed the desirability of a standard 
Community-wide single additional emergency 
telephone number which will in particular enable 
citizens in an emergency or disaster to call the 
relevant national emergency services (2); 
(10) Whereas the European Parliament has emphasized 
repeatedly the importance of the introduction of 
such a number, in particular in its resolutions of 
12 December 1988 on telecommunications (3) (4); 
(11) Whereas the European Conference of Post and 
Telecommunications (CEPT) has recommended in 
(l) Commission communication concerning coordination and 
preparatory work in the telecommunications field towards 
the introduction of a standard Europe-wide emergency call 
number by 1992 (COM(88) 312). 
O OJ No C 44, 23. 2. 1989. p. 3. 
(») OJ No C 12r 16. 1. 1989, p. 66. 
(4) OJ No C 12, 16. 1. 1989, p. 67. THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
(1) Whereas the telephone is the most important means 
for the notification of emergencies of all kinds and 
for calling emergency services responsible for public 
safety; 
(2) Whereas at present for this purpose different 
telephone numbers are utilized in the Member 
States; 
(3) Whereas the effect of such differences is to create 
problems in contacting the responsible services for 
citizens facing emergency situations in other 
Member States; 
(4) Whereas the substantial increase in both private and 
business travel within the Community has created a 
demand for the introduction of a standard 
Europe-wide emergency call number; 
(5) Whereas the introduction of a standard 
Europe-wide emergency call number would 
therefore promote the establishment and functioning 
of the internal market; 
1. 11.90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 275/5 
its recommendation T/SF1 of 1976 the use of the 
number 112 as the standard Europe-wide emergency 
services call number; 
(12) Whereas this recommendation has only been 
followed by very few Member States; 
(13) Whereas the number 112 remains the most suitable 
number for most telecommunications adminis­
trations; 
(14) Whereas for all Member States it will be possible to 
devise a plan to make the number 112 available; 
(15) Whereas most Member States could introduce the 
number 112 by 1992, whereas, however, for a 
limited number of Member States this would pose a 
burden since they would need to make unplanned 
changes or to advance plans already made; 
(16) Whereas, therefore, flexibility is needed in the time 
schedule for introduction in these Member States; 
(17) Whereas the introduction of number 112 will be 
possible by 1995, even in the Member States where 
difficulties exist; 
(18) Whereas, in addition to the technical, financial, 
operational and commercial implications of intro­
ducing the chosen number within public telecommu­
nications networks, Member States must make the 
necessary organizational arrangements best suited to 
the national organization of the emergency systems, 
in order to ensure that calls to this number are 
adequately answered and handled; whereas the 
standard Europe-wide emergency call number 
should therefore be used in parallel with other 
existing national arrangements, where appropriate; 
(19) Whereas Member States should work towards 
increasing the language capabilities of the operator 
answering calls to number 112, in order to optimize 
the use of the number; 
(20) Whereas the provision of emergency call numbers is 
provided for in all Member States by law, regu­
lation, or administrative action and continuing 
divergent developments in this area must be 
avoided, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 2. The standard Europe-wide emergency call number 
shall be introduced in parallel with any other existing 
national emergency call numbers, where this seems 
appropriate. 
Article 2 
The standard Europe-wide emergency call number shall 
be introduced by 31 December 1992 at the latest, except 
where Article 3 applies. 
Article 3 
1. Where particular technical, financial, or organiz­
ational difficulties in a Member State make the full intro­
duction of the standard Europe-wide emergency call 
number by the date foreseen in Article 2 impossible or 
would entail undue cost, the Member State shall inform 
the Commission of these difficulties. 
2. In this case, the Member State concerned shall 
communicate to the Commission, with adequate expla­
nations and justification, a new date for the full 
introduction of the standard Europe-wide emergency 
call number which however must not be later than 
31 December 1995. 
Article 4 
Member States shall take the necessary measures, in 
order to ensure that calls to the standard Europe-wide 
emergency call number are adequately answered and 
handled, in a manner best suited to the national 
organization of emergency systems and within the tech­
nological possibilities of the networks, and in a manner 
suited to take account of linguistic problems where they 
arise. 
Article 5 
1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions 
necessary to comply with this Decision by ... at the 
latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission 
thereof. 
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the 
provisions of national law which they adopt in the field 
governed by this Decision are communicated to the 
Commission. 
Article 1 
1. Member States shall ensure, that number 112 is 
introduced in public telephone networks, as well as in 
future integrated services digital networks and public 
mobile services, as the standard Europe-wide emergency 
call number. 3. The provisions brought into force by virtue of the 
first paragraph shall refer explicitly to this Decision. 
Article 6 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.