Iceland signs up to eCall

Creation date: 13 December 2006

Following the presentation of the eSafety Commission Communication titled "Bringing eCall back on track" in the Telecommunications, Transport and Energy Council of 11 December, Iceland signed the eCall Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This brings up to 10 the number of countries which have signed the Memorandum.

On the signature event of the MoU Mr. Sturla Böðvarsson, Minister of Transport and Telecommunications stated: "We are convinced that eCall will help save lives and therefore fully support the Commission in all its efforts to realize this service. We are please to be able to demonstrate our commitment by now handing over a signed declaration of two key players in the chain of starting eCall service in Iceland. We firmly believe that we will have required facilities for eCall in place as a part of a Pan-European eCall service in due time to the benefit of road users including Icelandic citizens and the growing number of tourists". The Minister handed over two other Memoranda signed by Icelandic organisations: Neyðarlínan hf, the Reykjavík PSAP, and New Development á Íslandi ehf, company specialised on in-vehicle equipment.

Commissioner Viviane Reding congratulated Iceland for joining Finland, Sweden, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia, Cyprus, Switzerland and Norway in the growing list countries that have signed the MoU. "This is an important step towards the implementation of the pan-European eCall service. I welcome the commitment showed by the Government of Iceland and other Icelandic organisations to advance on its implementation. I hope that other European countries will follow your example soon. eCall is for the benefit of all European citizens!."

For more information, please visit the eCall Toolbox.