The European eCall Platform will boost eCall deployment across Europe

Creation date: 05 March 2009

The first meeting in the framework of the European eCall Implementation Platform was successfully held on 12 February this year.

The eCall initiative has progressed significantly in the year 2008, in particular regarding completion of the standards, negotiation with automotive industry and commitment from new stakeholders. These results show that it is the moment when all stakeholders should start with concrete implementation plans to deploy eCall

Therefore the European eCall Implementation Platform aims to be the coordination body bringing together all major stakeholders to synchronise their activities that would accelerate the deployment of eCall at national and European level. The Platform will further develop the previous work accomplished by the eCall Driving Group, PSAPs Expert Group and the European Standardisation Organisations.

Participants included representatives of the European Commission, Member States (MS), industry and other major stakeholders. The main objectives and structure of the Platform along with the nomination of the chair and his mandate duration were discussed in this kick-off meeting. After a constructive debate it was agreed that for a period of two years ERTICO will take the role of chair and will be supported by a vice-chair, which should be a MS with a one year mandate. Finland was the first MS designated to ensure the role of the vice-chair, as first MS who signed the MoU.

The meeting highlighted the need to set up a work-programme including milestones and a series of tasks to be coordinated to ensure progress on the implementation of eCall across Europe as well as an effective and harmonised deployment of the service.

The Platform should allocate responsibilities, adopt decisions by consensus at its plenary meetings and organise campaigns to increase awareness of the European citizens on eCall. This will be the main objective of the second meeting, which will take place on 24th March 2004.

Representatives of the European Commission, Members States and industry discussing the main objectives of the Platform.