Frantic call for European missing children hotline

(BRUSSELS) - Europe issued a frantic "final call" for a single continent-wide 116 000 hotline for missing children, yet to be activated by all European Union member states.

"Every effort should be made to make 116 000 operational," said Matthew Newman, a spokesman for the European Union's executive Commission. "People on holiday anywhere in Europe should have the same number to call."

Giving defaulting nations six months until May 25 to get the service up and running, he listed 13 states yet to sign up -- Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Sweden.

In Britain the service is in partial operation.

"The disappearance of a child is always a tragedy and in some cases their life may even be at risk," said Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding. "The 116 000 number offers help, support and a potential lifeline for missing children and their parents."

The hotline would enable every child and every parent to remember one number instead of 27 national ones.

The Commission said obstacles to full service across the EU stemmed from lack of information from the public and operators about the existence of the line, as well as the cost.

A further snag is offering multilingual operators.

Missing children hotline 116 000 - guide