Brussels, 02/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 March, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted, without debate, its position on the regulation on type-approval requirements for fitting eCall devices. This device will be fitted to all vehicles and will automatically call the 112 number in an accident. According to the text adopted by the Council, manufacturers will be obliged to fit the eCall device in all new vehicles as from 31 March 2018. The infrastructure for the eCall system will need to be set up by 1 October 2017. All consumers will be able to use it, free of charge. The device will have to be compatible with Galileo and EGNOS satellite navigation systems. On 18 December 2014, the Council approved the political agreement reached in the trialogue (see EUROPE 11221). Parliament will in turn be asked to approve the text by the summer in a second reading. (Jean Comte)