Brussels, 03/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 2 September in Brussels, the European Parliament adopted a written declaration calling for member state emergency cooperation in recovering missing children. This declaration obtained 418 signatures. The number of kidnapped children in Europe is increasing and victims can be taken across borders. The chances of a kidnapped child surviving diminishes with time but there is still no European alarm system in place for missing children or local or national systems in most EU countries. Faced with the inaction of several countries, MEPs are therefore calling on member states to set up a missing child alert system. Activating this system would involve the immediate sending out of information concerning the identity of the missing child, a photograph and whenever possible, information about the disappearance and suspected kidnappers. This information, together with a telephone contact number (116000 if it is working) will be sent to relevant media, border police, customs services and law enforcement agencies. MEPs are also pushing for the conclusion of cooperation agreements will all border countries in an effort to provide the resources for swiftly sounding the alarm in countries that may be involved. They are calling for the setting up of a joint organising in charge of helping and training national bodies. They want their president to send out this declaration, together with the signatures, to the Commission and Council. One of the people behind this declaration, Edward McMillan-Scott (EPP-ED, United Kingdom), welcomed the support from the majority of MEPs, which will give a political boost to the aim of tackling the problem of missing children, an issue that until now has often been a rather bureaucratic process. Highlighting the example of France, where the alert system is working well, McMillan-Scott said that, “We need to encourage member state governments to take up the mantle”. Last July, in Cannes, the French government attempted to launch the debate on adopting interoperable national kidnap alert systems (EUROPE 9699). Dianna Wallis (ADLE, United Kingdom), co-author of the declaration, indicated that she was working with the Presidency in the aim of obtaining concrete results by December. (B.C./trans/rh)