112 emergency number cannot be launched due to lack of money and legal framework

The 112 phone line, which was supposed to be a single line for all emergency services and which was supposed to be launched at the end of 2010, is still in the project phase, due to lack of money and a legal framework to provide such a service. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Serghei Popovici, director general of the Special Telecommunications Service under the State Chancellery, the one responsible for the implementation of this service, stated that only the concept of the service was approved two years ago, without the method of implementation. Along with the lack of a legal framework comes the lack of money. The authorities are searching for funds to implement the project. If the necessary money is found, the service could be launched within a year, said Serghei Popovici. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Pavel Sincariuc, head of the Information Technologies Policies Department of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications, stated that they are working on finalizing a bill that would regulate the implementation of this common service. The bill was elaborated and signed off by the relevant structures, but was returned by the Government, due to several propositions that had to undergo examination. According to Sincariuc, the bill will, most likely, have been finalized by the of the year. It is necessary to create a plan of action, and clearly establish the responsibilities of each structure involved. According to a decision of the Parliament, taken in 2011, regarding the approval of the National Action Plan on Human Rights, for years 2011-2014, 600 million lei are needed for the creation of the National All-Emergency Call System using the common European number “112”, and another 80 million lei are needed for annual maintenance. Previously the authorities announced that the common service was supposed to be implemented by the end of 2010. The 112 line would've been a toll-free emergency line linking to the fire-fighters and rescuers, hospital emergencies, police, and gas service employees.