EU May Cancel Legal Action Against Bulgaria, Romania in Early '09 as New-comers Implement 112 Emergency Number

The authorities have made significant efforts since the launch of an infringement procedure against Bulgaria in October 2007, the European Commission said in a statement. “The Commission has verified, through expert missions, that 112, as well as caller location (which allows emergency services to locate people when they dial 112), is now fully available in Bulgaria. […] All this could allow the Commission to close the infringement case against Bulgaria in early 2009.”

“At the end of November, Romanian authorities confirmed that caller location information is available to emergency services for all calls made from mobile phones. This information was looked into by Commission experts and could allow the Commission to close the infringement case against Romania in early 2009.” it said.

“There is still work to be done by the EU Member States, but the first target of having a single emergency number has been achieved,” EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said in the statement.

The European Commission sent letters of formal notice to Bulgaria in October 2007 and to Romania in November 2007. In April 2008 it sent to both countries reasoned opinions, which is the final stage in such a procedure before the case is referred to the European Court of Justice.

In September, the Commission gave three months to the countries to address the matter before bringing both countries before the Court of Justice.

EU law requires that member states ensure emergency services can be called free of charge with the single European emergency number 112. Member countries also have to ensure that telecoms operators provide the emergency services with information on the caller's location for 112 calls made from both fixed and mobile phones.