Brussels, 13/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 11 December the Commission presented an urgent set of actions to restart moves to roll-out emergency call (eCall) technology for cars in Europe. According to the Commission's report of 23 November, the Commission-industry action plan agreed in 2005 to add eCall to all new cars in Europe by 2009 has stalled. While there has been significant progress at European level, some Member States have been slow to invest in infrastructure, and industry now refuses further action. “We urgently need to get eCall back on track" said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "We have the technology. Now we need Member States and industry to move up a gear and help us make Europe's roads safer sooner rather than later.”
The initial 2005 Commission-industry agreement contained a framework for rolling-out eCall in Europe, targeting Member States which had to invest in emergency rescue service infrastructure. The Commission also agreed to monitor progress closely, and to take further action if eCall deployment was endangered. As eCall is based on the single European emergency number 112 and its location-enhancement, E112, their implementation was also followed by the Commission. This led to serious concerns. While the Commission has taken several measures supporting eCall deployment and standardisation, and some Member States have already started eCall deployment, many are not on track with the necessary infrastructure. Industry has already reacted with a new deployment timetable of 2010 instead of 2009.
The Commission's responded by adopting the a new Communication on 23 November, "Bringing eCall back on track - Action Plan". It presents two actions that are crucial for making eCall a reality: 1) Member States have been given clear actions with deadlines for solving the remaining legal, technical and socio-economic issues and proceeding with the necessary 112, E112 and eCall infrastructures; 2) Industry is asked to renew its commitment to eCall. The Commission will also start negotiations with the associations of the automotive industry on a voluntary agreement for introducing eCall devices into vehicles. The text of the 23 November communication can be consulted at the following address: http: //eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2006/com2006_0723en01.pdf