HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 303/46
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
22.11.2011
RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
of 8 September 2011
on support for an EU-wide eCall service in electronic communication networks for the
transmission of in-vehicle emergency calls based on 112 (‘eCalls’)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2011/750/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
emergency call services. The development of common
technical solutions should be pursued through the
European standardisation organisations, in order to
facilitate the introduction of the eCall service, ensure
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
the interoperability and continuity of the service
Union, and in particular Article 292 thereof,
EU-wide, and reduce the costs of implementation for
the European Union.
Whereas:
(5) A
harmonised
solution
across
Europe
would
ensure
inter
operability for transmitting the voice/audio call and the
minimum set of data generated by the in-vehicle eCall
(1) Council
Decision
91/396/EEC
of
29
July
1991
on
the
system to the public safety answering point, including
introduction of a single European emergency call
the accurate location and time of the incident. A
number ( 1 ) required Member States to ensure that the
harmonised solution would also ensure the continuity
number 112 was introduced in public telephone
of the eCall service across European countries. With the
networks as the single European emergency call number.
high volume of cross-border traffic in Europe, there is a
growing need for a common data transfer protocol for
passing such information to public safety answering
points and emergency services in order to avoid the
(2) Directive
2002/22/EC
of
the
European
Parliament
and
of
risk of confusion or wrong interpretation of the data
the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and
passed.
users’ rights relating to electronic communications
networks and services (Universal Service Directive) ( 2 )
requires Member States to ensure that calls to the
number 112 are appropriately answered and handled,
and that all end-users are able to call 112 free of charge.
(6) The
effective
implementation
of
a
harmonised
EU-wide
interoperable eCall service requires that the voice/audio
call, along with the minimum set of data generated by
the in-vehicle system on the incident, is transmitted auto
matically to any appropriate public safety answering
(3) Directive
2010/40/EU
of
the
European
Parliament
and
of
the Council of 7 July 2010 on the framework for the
point that can receive and use the location data provided.
deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field
of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of
transport ( 3 ) included harmonised provision for an inter
operable EU-wide eCall service as a priority action. The
(7) The
arrangements
for
forwarding
information
by
mobile
introduction of such a harmonised service in all vehicles
network operators to public safety answering points
in the European Union has the potential to significantly
should be established in a transparent and non-
reduce the number of fatalities and the severity of injuries
discriminatory way, including, where appropriate, any
resulting from road accidents.
cost aspects.
(4)
It is important for all Member States to develop common
technical solutions and practices for the provision of
(8) A
harmonised
solution
across
Europe
may
also
ensure
interoperability for advanced eCall applications, such as
the provision of additional information, e.g. on crash-
( 1 ) OJ L 217, 6.8.1991, p. 31.
( 2 ) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 51.
sensor indicators, on the type of dangerous goods
( 3 ) OJ L 207, 6.8.2010, p. 1.
carried or on the number of occupants of the vehicle.

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EN
22.11.2011 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
303/47
(9) Directive
95/46/EC
of
the
European
Parliament
and
of (14) To
achieve
the
objectives
of
this
Recommendation,
a
the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of
continued dialogue between mobile network operators
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data
and service providers and public authorities, including
and on the free movement of such data ( 1 ) and Directive
emergency services, is essential.
2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of
personal data and the protection of privacy in the elec
tronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and
(15) Given
the
continuous
evolution
of
concepts
and
tech
electronic communications) (
nologies, Member States are encouraged to foster and

2 ) generally require that the
privacy and data protection rights of individuals should
support the development of services for emergency
be fully respected and adequate technical and organisa
assistance, for instance to tourists and travellers and to
tional security measures should be implemented for that
transporters of dangerous goods by road, and to support
purpose. However, it allows the use of location data by
the development and implementation of common
emergency services without the consent of the user
interface specifications in ensuring Europe-wide inter
concerned. In particular, Member States should ensure
operability of such services,
that there are transparent procedures governing the
way in which a provider of a public telecommunications
network and/or service may override the absence of
HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION:
consent by a user to the processing of location data,
on a per-line basis for organisations that deal with
emergency calls and are recognised as such by a
Member State.
1. Member States should apply the following harmonised
conditions and principles to the making of emergency calls
manually or automatically by an in-vehicle telematics
(10) The
eCall
service
has
been
designed
to
follow
the
recom
terminal to public safety answering points via the single
mendations made by the Article 29 Data Protection
European emergency call number 112.
Working Party and contained in the working document
on data protection and privacy implications of the eCall
initiative, adopted on 26 September 2006, namely that
vehicles equipped with eCall devices should not be
2. For the purposes of this Recommendation, the following
traceable in their normal operational status and that
definitions apply:
the minimum set of data sent by the eCall device
should include the minimum information required for
the appropriate handling of emergency calls.
(a) ‘emergency service’ means a service, recognised as such
by the Member State, that provides immediate and rapid
(11) This Recommendation will allow Member States to
assistance in situations where there is a direct risk to life
design the eCall response organisation in a way that
or limb, to individual or public health or safety, to
best suits their emergency response infrastructure.
private or public property, or to the environment, but
not necessarily limited to these situations;
(12) Actions
under
the
European
Union’s
action
programme
in the field of civil protection should aim to integrate
civil protection objectives within other Union policies
(b) ‘public safety answering point’ (PSAP) means the physical
and actions as well as ensure the consistency of the
location where emergency calls are first received under
programme with other Union actions. This entitles the
the responsibility of a public authority or a private
Commission to implement actions to increase the
organisation recognised by the national government,
preparedness of organisations involved in civil protection
whereby the ‘most appropriate PSAP’ is the one
in the Member States, by enhancing their ability to
defined beforehand by authorities to cover emergency
respond to emergencies and by improving the techniques
calls from a certain area or for emergency calls of a
and methods of response and immediate aftercare. This
certain type (e.g. eCalls);
may include the handling and use of eCall information
by public safety answering points and emergency
services.
(c) ‘eCall’ means an in-vehicle emergency call to 112, made
either automatically via activation of in-vehicle sensors or
(13) For
the
successful
implementation
of
an
eCall
service
manually, which carries, by means of mobile wireless
throughout the Union, implementation issues must be
communications networks, a standardised minimum set
addressed and timescales for the introduction of new
of data and establishes an audio channel between the
systems coordinated. The European eCall Implementation
occupants of the vehicle and the most appropriate
Platform, established by the Commission in February
public safety answering point;
2009 as a partnership between the public and private
sectors, has allowed all stakeholders to discuss and
agree on the principles for harmonised and timely
implementation.
(d) ‘emergency service category value’ is the 8-bit value
used for mobile-originated emergency calls to
( 1 ) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31.
indicate the particular type of emergency call
( 2 ) OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37.
(1-Police, 2-Ambulance, 3-Fire Brigade, 4-Marine Guard,

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L 303/48
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
22.11.2011
5-Mountain Rescue, 6-Manually Initiated eCall, 7-Auto
4. Member States should ensure that mobile network operators
matically Initiated eCall, 8-spare), as indicated in Table
implement the mechanism to handle the ‘eCall discriminator’
10.5.135d of ETSI TS 124.008;
in their networks. This should be implemented by
31 December 2014.
(e) ‘eCall discriminator’ or ‘eCall flag’ means the
‘emergency service category value’ allocated
to eCalls according to ETSI TS 124.008 (i.e.
5. Mobile network operators should handle an eCall like any
‘6-Manually Initiated eCall’ and ‘7-Automatically
other call to the single European emergency number 112.
Initiated eCall’), allowing differentiation between 112
calls from mobile terminals and 112 eCalls from in-
vehicle terminals and also between manually and auto
6. Member States should require their national authorities to
matically triggered eCalls;
report to the Commission on the measures taken regarding
this Recommendation, and on the state of implementation
(f) ‘minimum set of data’ means the information which
by the mobile network operators of the mechanism to
must be sent to the PSAP according to the standard
handle the ‘eCall discriminator’ in their networks, by the
EN 15722; and
end of March 2012, so that the Commission can
undertake a review taking into account the emerging
(g) ‘mobile telecommunication network operator’ or ‘mobile
requirements for public safety answering points.
network operator’ means a provider of a public mobile
wireless communications network.
3. Member States should draw up detailed rules for public
Done at Brussels, 8 September 2011.
mobile network operators operating in their countries on
handling eCalls. The rules should fully comply with the
data protection provisions enshrined in Directives
For the Commission
95/46/EC and 2002/58/EC. Further, they should indicate
the most appropriate public safety answering point to
Neelie KROES
route eCalls.
Vice-President

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