European 112 day was held on 11 February 2012, highlighting the 112 single European emergency number, which is free from landlines and mobiles from any location in the European Union (EU).
According to the 2012 edition of the Eurobarometer focusing on the 112 (Flash Eurobarometer 339), only 26 percent of Europeans are able to immediately identify the single emergency number in the EU. The rest of respondents are divided, with 65 percent answering that they did not know which number they could call to contact emergency services anywhere in the EU, while 9% gave an incorrect telephone number (i.e. a number other than 112).
Asked about the emergency number in their own country, 47 percent of respondents identified 112, which represents a slight decline compared to 50 percent last year. In Portugal, the Eurobarometer data indicates that 86 percent of respondents would telephone 112 in an emergency, 5 percent chose another national emergency number and 9 percent would use other telephone numbers. These values reflect the fact that Portugal is among the group of countries that have 112 as their only/principal emergency number - this group also includes Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Romania and Malta.
In the context of marking European 112 day, the 5th report of the Communications Committee (COCOM) was also released on the implementation of the single European emergency number.
In addition, a new information campaign was announced at EU level, involving major railway, aviation and other transport companies.
Further information:
- 112 day: 74 % of Europeans don't know what emergency number to call when travelling in the EU. New campaign http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/120&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Flash Eurobarometer 339 - The European emergency number 112 (report) http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/docs/report_2012.pdf
- Flash Eurobarometer 339 - The European emergency number 112 (summary) http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/docs/survey_summary2012.pdf
- COCOM - Implementation of the European emergency number 112 - Results of the fifth data-gathering round http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/docs/cocom2012.pdf
- Factsheet 44: 112 - Your lifeline while travelling in the EU http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemlongdetail.cfm?item_id=5623
- Portal 112.pt http://www.112.pt/
- 112 Foudation http://www.112foundation.eu/
- European Comission - Information Society - 112 http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112
