(2004/C 70 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2773/03

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Subject:   Rules governing the staffing of emergency call centres in EU countries

During a holiday in Italy a Danish motorist was run into by an Italian lorry on a motorway. Afterwards, the lorry driver refused to stop on the side of the road and instead drove off. The Danish motorist then tried to contact the Italian police by dialling 113 but there was no-one who could understand either English or German. After four calls the motorist in question had to abandon the attempt to contact the police. The Danish motorist survived this experience without physical injury but things could have been much worse.

Will the Commission state what rules exist governing the staffing of emergency call centres in the Member States with persons speaking other languages than that of the country in question? Will it also state whether it feels it is acceptable that citizens from another EU country cannot make contact with the police owing to a lack of language skills on the part of the staff at the host country's emergency call centre?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2003)

The Commission's role in the field of police cooperation in the Union is laid down by Article 30 of the Treaty on European Union, which sets out the areas covered by common action taken by the Member States. The rules and internal organisation of the emergency services is the sole responsibility of the Member States. Under Article 33, the Member States are responsible for the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security.

There are no Community rules that govern relations between staff in the emergency services in the Member States and persons who do not speak the language of the country. Nevertheless, the Commission feels that if national police officers are familiar with one or more foreign languages so as to handle contacts with citizens of other countries, that is an important factor in establishing an area of freedom, security and justice. The Community financing programme, AGIS, has taken this matter into account and some of its funds are set aside for projects to improve the ability of police forces to meet the challenges of this new European area. The European Police College (Cepol) is also encouraging language learning in training of police officers.