EU Considering More Europe-Wide Freephone Services

On Feb. 15, the European Commission required member states to reserve six-digit telephone numbers -- starting with 116 -- for "services of social value" in Europe. At the same time, the Commission also reserved 116000 as a missing-child hotline.

Today, the Commission launched a public consultation to identify common Europe-wide telephone services of social value that could benefit from single European freephone numbers starting with 116.

"Following in the footsteps of the European hotline number for missing children, it is now time to reflect on which other services might require such a number," said EU Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding. "There are many other possibilities and I am now inviting all stakeholders to suggest which are the most important new services. I am already considering a single EU child helpline number to give children a caring ear to assist them with their problems."

The consultation seeks to identify other services that may also benefit from a single Europe-wide number. These services will help citizens in difficulty or contribute to their well-being or safety. Once the Commission has decided which numbers should be reserved for which services, it will be for Member States to assign the numbers to individual organizations within their territory.