European 112 Day

The European Union is ready to support Serbia in fighting the natural disaster if it requests so, but it is important to bear in mind that we also have limited capacity, Head of the EU Delegation to Belgrade Vincent Degert stated today.

Degert said that people in Serbia, rather than just waiting for the state to do something, can also do something themselves, e.g. use less electricity and show solidarity.

Due to climate change, we should be prepared for more and more frequent natural disasters in the future and we should try to prevent the risks, Degert said at the event on the occasion of the European 112 Day, promoting Europe's single emergency number.

Speaking about the single EU emergency number, he pointed out that its introduction in Serbia was important because the citizens will learn which number they should dial when in the EU, while the citizens of the Union’s Member States will dial this number in Serbia as they normally do.

Degert says that the EU supports Serbia’s efforts in this respect and that it will provide both technical and logistical support.

Serbian Minister of the Interior Ivica Dačić said that the current natural disaster has shown how much the existence of a single emergency number for ambulance, police and fire brigades would contribute to quicker response and better coordination of all emergency services.

Minister Dačić hopes that the introduction of 112 in Serbia will start this year, because the current cold wave has shown that a coordinated system is extremely important for proper functioning of all services and protection of lives of the people and of their property.