112: single EU emergency number
112 is the European emergency number you can dial free of charge from fixed and mobile phones everywhere in the EU. It will get you straight through to the emergency services - police, ambulance, fire brigade.
National emergency numbers are still in use too, alongside 112. But 112 is the only number you can use to access the emergency services in all EU countries.
112 is also used in some countries outside the EU - such as Switzerland and South Africa.
More on 112 in individual EU countries.
Sample story
Preventing a disaster
Anasthassios from Greece had a fire in his apartment in Lisbon just after moving there to study. He didn't know the Portuguese emergency services number, but he remembered he could use the 112 emergency number in Portugal, just as in his native Greece or anywhere in the EU. So he dialled 112 and got straight through to Lisbon emergency services which sent the fire brigade to his home straight away.
When you're travelling in the EU, remember to take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. If you need emergency medical care, the EHIC card will simplify the paperwork and help you get refunded for any public health care expenses.
Missing children: 116000 tel
If your child goes missing, whether at home or in another EU country, you can call 116000, the hotline for missing children, from most EU countries.
You can use the hotline to report a missing child; it provides support for families of missing children.
The 116 000 hotline is currently available in 22 EU countries.
More on other 116 numbers
Sample story
How to report a missing child
On holiday in France, Andreas and Kirsten, a couple from Germany were distraught when their daughter went missing while on an excursion. Some hours later they still hadn't found her. They reported the case to the police but also remembered the number available in Germany for reporting cases of missing children. Knowing that the 116 000 hotline worked in France too, they dialled the number and got advice on how to handle their case with the French authorities.
EU legislation
EU rules on national numbers beginning with 116
EU rules on 112
The EU telecoms rules ensure that Europeans can call European emergency number 112 from any type of phone, wherever they are in Europe.
On this page
EU Legislation on 112
Collaborating with national authorities
Infringement Proceedings on 112
EU Legislation on 112
112 became the single European emergency number in 1991.
The EU telecoms rules brought general obligations on 112:
- ensure that European citizens gain better access to 112 not only by traditional telephony but also using new technologies (such as VoIP);
- operators must provide information about caller location to emergency authorities;
- improve access to 112 for people with disabilities.
- Member States must ensure that users of fixed and mobile telephones, including payphones, are able to call 112 free of charge;
- 112 calls must be appropriately answered and handled, irrespective of whether other emergency numbers exist in a specific country;
- Member States must ensure that emergency services are able to establish the location of the person calling 112;
The Roaming Regulation obliges roaming service providers to send an SMS to people travelling to another EU country with information about the European emergency number 112.
Collaborating with national authorities
The European Commission is working together with national authorities to ensure the correct implementation of 112:
The Commission requires Member States to gather and provide detailed data on the implementation of 112 through the Communications Committee COCOM. The latest COCOM report on 112.
The Expert Group on Emergency Access (EGEA) consists of Member State officials representing emergency response centres, civil protection and telecommunication authorities. The group meets in Brussels every few months. The group seeks practical solutions to problems experienced by the emergency services at local, regional or national levels, and deals with issues related to the application of new technologies for communication with emergency services.
Infringement Proceedings on 112
The European Commission ensures that European rules on 112 are correctly applied in the European Union and has launched 17 infringement proceedings against Member States that have not complied with the relevant requirements of EU law. All cases are now closed following corrective measures in the countries concerned (see table). Problems included the lack of 112 availability, non-availability of caller location information and the degree of effectiveness for handling and answering 112 calls. The European Commission continues to monitor the correct implementation of the EU law on 112 and takes legal action if necessary...OP+
