The 112 Newsletter, Issue 14

The European Emergency Number Association (EENA) is a non-profit association established in Belgium in March 1999. Its main objective is to promote the knowledge and efficient use of the 112, the single European Emergency Call Number, all over Europe. EENA acts as a discussion platform bringing together all the actors (organizations, emergency services, enterprises and individuals) involved with the development and implementation of the 112.

The following are the achievements of the EENA:

• Organization of two high-level conferences on the 112 without any public funding and with the participation of some 200 experts from Emergency Services, Industry, Final User Associations and politicians, coming from 28 countries.
  
  
  
• Setting up and operating a regularly updated web site and regular publication of the 112 electronic newsletter.
  
  
  
• Awareness raising of the public at large on the 112 through numerous articles and interviews in European mass media (written and audiovisual press).
  
  
  
• Awareness raising of European politicians and officials on the 112, through
  
  - Letters and personal visits
  
  - Introduction of a series of complaints
  
  - Introduction of a petition to the European Parliament
  
  
  
• Lobbying of Members of the European Parliament, who introduced
  
  - Several topical parliamentary questions
  
  - A specific comment on the 112 in the 2005 budget
  
  
  

On October 11th 2005, Commissioner for Information Society and the Media Ms. Viviane Reding, inaugurated a new era in the field of the 112, by assuming full responsibility for the 112 and making it one of her personal political priorities. Currently many of the arguments used by the European Commission to improve the implementation are «textual copies» from documents published by the EENA.

All this has been achieved by a small number of volunteers and thanks to the confidence our members showed in our common objective: an efficient, high-quality 112 service-chain for all emergency calls made within the European Union. And ЕENA is currently working to expand its network at the level of individual Member States thanks to the 112 champions. They will help at national level to report, inform, raise awareness about and promote the 112 amongst emergency services and citizens.

We believe that the real challenges now lay ahead: establishing quality criteria for the 112 service-chain and the services provided during emergencies, as well as minimal response times during emergencies. And EENA is committed to face them in the best possible way.

However, to achieve even better results we need your assistance and involvement. If you work for the emergency services, if you are active in an association dealing with citizen's safety and security, if you work for an industry related with the 112, or if you are simply a citizen who wants to help, you can contribute:

• Morally, by disseminating information on the 112 to media, authorities, relevant associations.
  
  
  
• Intellectually, by helping in the definition of quality criteria, through your active participation in internet-based working groups and conferences.
  
  
  
• Financially, by sponsoring the association for 2006 as follows:

10€ (you will become member for one year and receive a 112 tee-shirt)

10€ (you will become member for one year, you will receive a 112 tee-shirt or a cap and the possibility to be become member of the 112 Committee, in order to represent your point of view and contribute to our activities)

90€ (the Emergency Service  will become member for one year, you will receive 10 units of 112 tee-shirts, one 112 cap and the possibility to become member of the 112 Committee in order to represent your point of view and contribute to our activities). Your logo will be included on the EENA website.

1500€ (the Company will become member for one year, receive 25 units of 112 caps, 25 units 112 tee-shirts and the possibility to become member of the 112 Committee in order to represent your point of view and contribute to our activities). Your logo will be included in the homepage of the EENA website as well as the Buyer's guide

Your membership will start from next 1st January and expire on 31st December of the same year.