News about Emergency and support lines

‘112', the common EU number for emergency communications has been saving lives for 30 years, helping Europeans travel safely and reach emergency services in any EU country through the single EU number. In 2019, Europeans called ‘112' close to 150 million times, which represents 56% of all emergency calls, while in the last 10 years, some 1.5 billion calls were made to the number.

In emergencies, dialling 112 is the critical step for getting help. The recognisable, EU-wide emergency number is supported by operators and national Public Safety Answering Point systems, which ensure that the call is properly and efficiently handled. The EU is making sure that Europeans know that they can dial the same emergency number anywhere in the EU. To raise awareness among Europeans and, in fact, anyone travelling in the EU, each year, February 11th marks ‘112 Day’.

Every year on 11 February, the European Union puts its Single Emergency Number “112” in the spotlight. Thanks to EU legislation adopted in 1991, people in distress can call the 112 emergency number from anywhere in the EU and free of charge. Calls in the EU to the “112” reached 140 million last year. It is almost half of all the emergency calls.

The European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement to update the EU's telecoms rules. The new European Electronic Communications Code, proposed by the Commission, will boost investments in very high capacity networks across the EU, including in remote and rural areas.

The use of 112, the European Emergency number with more accurate caller location has increased.

These real-life examples illustrate how better caller location allows for a quick response and help. The attached snapshot shows the exact position of a tourist lost in the mountains. In this way he could be located and guided by emergency services, thanks to his mobile device.

On Saturday 11th February, the European Union celebrated 112 Day - the day of the Single European Emergency Number. With an average of 255 million mobile emergency calls every year, a new technical solution helps to provide accurate caller location for people in distress.

11 February is European 112 Day, a day aimed at raising public awareness of Europe's emergency number, 112. This year in August will be 25 years since 112 number was introduced, yet a survey shows that only half (48%) of EU citizens could spontaneously identify 112 as the number that allows them to call the police, fire brigade or medical services anywhere in the EU at no cost.