Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-07-02-Speech-1-210-000"
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"en.20120702.24.1-210-000"2
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"Madam President, the introduction of mandatory safety elements to vehicles always involves a lively discussion. This was the case some time ago when the debates took place on the introduction of mandatory safety belts. In the 1970s, tests and then installation began of an additional element, known today as the airbag. It is now 2012 and we are debating another significant contribution to the improvement of passive safety on European roads, in the form of the eCall system.
eCall is on a par with the airbag, the presence of which in cars we now take for granted, but in the event of an accident, it automatically calls for help by contacting the 112 emergency number. I say that in case you are unaware of it, because eCall automatically informs the emergency services immediately after a collision of the exact location of the accident by sending the GPS coordinates. Neither the language barrier nor ignorance of the local area can now prevent drivers from calling for help.
It is a compelling argument that 2 500 lives could be saved annually, and serious injuries reduced by up to 15% with universal installation of the eCall system into vehicles. Only one question therefore remains. Why is it not up and running yet? The gradual introduction of a pan-European eCall service in all vehicles and in all countries was one of the main road safety priorities identified by experts as long ago as 2002. Unfortunately, however, experience has shown us that the preferred voluntary introduction of the system is not working. We can see proof enough of this in the fact that a mere 0.5% of mainly luxury brand vehicles are fitted with a private in-vehicle emergency call service, which is a kind of substitute for an eCall public service and which, moreover, does not provide cover throughout the EU.
In response to the failing voluntary approach, the Commission last year announced a total of three planning documents on mandatory introduction of the eCall system. So far, however, it has published only one of them – a recommendation from September 2011 addressed to Member States and mobile operators. In the meantime, unfortunately, we have not even seen a draft regulation on the introduction of the in-vehicle aspects of the eCall service, in other words, the second document which, according to Commissioner Kroes, was supposed to have been published in the first quarter of this year. This was to have been the first legislative step towards mandatory introduction of the eCall system.
I therefore hope that tomorrow, we will confirm the common position of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Transport and Tourism, and that Parliament will again express its support for the mandatory introduction of the eCall system. We must make use of the opportunity to send the Commission a clear signal that there can be no further delays in the introduction of the eCall system. The promised legislative proposals must be presented as soon as possible, so that all citizens can make use of emergency calling incorporated into a public 112-based system throughout the EU from 2015. The public eCall system must function free of charge throughout Europe, in all vehicles, regardless of brand, price, country or location at any given moment.
I would like to end my speech by offering my sincere thanks to my co-rapporteur, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, and all shadow rapporteurs, as well as the secretariat and our assistants, for the cooperation that led to the production of what is, in my opinion, a balanced report and a clear message."@en1
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