Brussels, 01/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is planning to provide financial aid for information and the training of EU member states' consulate staff to ensure EU citizens travelling outside the EU have someone to turn to if they have problems. Following a public hearing on 29 May on consular protection (see EUROPE 9436), the Commission said it would fund public information campaigns in the future and the training of member states' consular agents (EUR 250,000 in 2007). Posters informing people about consular protection services available abroad have already been sent to national estate agent associations. 'Many of our customers are travelling outside the EU, whether for business or for leisure purposes. It is thus essential that travel agents, tour operators but also their customers are well informed about the protection that EU citizens are entitled to claim from any Member State', explained Jan Van Steen, ECTAA President (the group of national travel agents' and tour operators' associations in the 25 EU member states) in a press release. Other information will soon be displayed in ports and airports. A freephone number may also be introduced in the long-term and the Commission is studying the option of improving links to national travel information websites, possibly using the Europa portal. There will not be any uniform information because countries tend to feel they are the best placed for providing information to their inhabitants, particularly when it comes to travel advice for countries considered at risk for health or security reasons. When travelling in a country outside the EU where their own country does not have an embassy or consulate, European citizens are allowed to make use of consular services of any other EU member state under the same conditions as a citizen of that country. Such consular assistance can be requested, for example, in the event of arrest or imprisonment, accident, serious illness, death or if a crisis puts European citizens in a situation of distress where they require aid and/or repatriation. (bc)