Brussels, 10/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 11 February, the European Union celebrates “European 112 Day” and on 10 February, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes sent a letter to EU member states, expressing her dissatisfaction with the lack of measures taken to efficiently implement the European emergency number in the different member states. According to the commissioner, access to the emergency number is still far from guaranteed in all member states and citizens still lack information about the 112 number. She is calling on the EU28 to inform her before 30 March next of the action they intend to take to rectify this situation. She stated that “the 112 number is still unknown by the majority of Europeans and I am unable to affirm that the number is accessible to everyone, that it is functioning efficiently and all those who need emergency assistance are using it”. The commissioner criticised the lack of will to improve the systems for locating the caller and access to this emergency service for people with disabilities. She pointed out that member states were legally obliged to inform their citizens about the existence of the emergency number, its accessibility and the objectives pursued, as well as to improve the systems in place. The most recent Eurobarometer survey illustrated that only 49% of Europeans were aware that the 112 number is accessible in all EU countries. (IL/transl.fl)