Objectives

The European Emergency Number Association (EENA) is a non-profit association established in Belgium. Its main objective is to promote the knowledge and efficient use of the 112, the single European Emergency Call Number, all over Europe, by acting as a discussion platform bringing together all the actors (organizations, emergency services, enterprises and individuals) involved with the development and implementation of the 112.

They mainly include:

• Political organizations (European Union, national governments, regional and local authorities, standardization bodies)
• Private enterprises (equipment manufacturers, operators of fixed and mobile telephone network, insurance companies)
• Professional users (emergency medical services, rescue and firefighting services, police, civil protection)
• Civil society and other associations  (consumers, victims, volunteers, tourists, holiday organizers, automobile clubs)
• Informed individual citizens

Furthermore the EENA believes that its action should contribute to the best implementation of the following principles:

• European citizens have the fundamental right to know about the existence of the 112 - this can save their lives
• When in distress, every citizen calling the 112 within the European Union should get the appropriate help, as soon as possible, at the place of the emergency
• Citizens in distress are entitled to the same high quality safety and security standards  within the territory of the Member States and that they should receive the same high quality aftercare in case of accident or disaster

EENA publishes its annual report and accounts since 2003 on this site.  EENA announced the following specific objectives for the year 2008

• Actions for the Information of Citizens (The first European 112 Day on ebruary 11th) and by setting up a national delagates network which will make sure to become a kind of go-between (for the EC and the Member States) by informing populations and emergency services on legislation in force and to report to European Authorities about the national situations within the Member States. EENA wants also act as technical support for emergency services willing to submit project for European funding.
• Actions to ensure the role of EENA as a discussion platform, through the web site (launching portal dedicated to the 112), the Newsletter (publishing of invited articles) and by setting up the EENA Advisory Board gathering politicians, professional users organisations and industry providing with technical and organisational solutions in order to launch the European 112 Excellence Centre.
• Actions aiming at motivating the Authorities to act, through interventions at all levels especially the European Parliament (where several MEPs are willing to help), the European Commission (mainly Information Society & Civil Protection departments), the European Ombudsman, national governments and others as necessary.
• Creation of EENA Advisory Board (see below)
• List

EENA undertakes the obligation to publish its annual accounts on this site (only for members)

Specific actions for the year 2008: EENA Advisory Board

Following major political successes such as the endorsement by a very large majority of the European Parliament of the Written Declaration on the European Emergency Number 112 and the Written Declaration on Early Warning Systems, EENA has set up an Advisory Board that has already been joined by the main emergency telecommunications stakeholders. Several high-level politicians such as two Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament are on board. Representatives of professional users and international organisations along with key industry players have decided to participate to this exciting European development. The 30 Members of EENA Advisory Board have outlined the following objectives for the year 2008:

• Promote a better knowledge about the existence and use of the European Emergency Number by contributing on a series of projects to inform and educate the population (travellers, children, etc) on the 112.
• Set up the network of 112 First Responders in Europe, provide them with a discussion platform and make sure their voice, the voice of the 112, will be heard in the relevant political fora.  
• Contribute to a revision of the related legislation and regulatory framework on the basis of emergency services requirements. EENA Advisory Board will also promote increased budget for emergency services in view of improving response to daily emergency calls.
• Set up the concept of 112 Excellence Centres in Europe. By equipping selected PSAP's according to high-level technical and organizational requirements, EENA Advisory Board will promote best practices in Europe.

To join EENA Advisory Board, please contact Gary Machado at gm@eena.org