Press News

Budapest, May 22, 2008

The Blue Line Child Crisis Foundation and Magyar Telekom announced at a press conference today the introduction of the harmonized European telephone numbers 116 111 and 116 000. From June 1 the Blue Line Helpline Service for Children and Youth is accessible – as the first in Europe – on the harmonized European telephone number 116 111 and the Blue Line “Are you there? Missing Children” service on the harmonized European telephone number 116 000. Magyar Telekom has enabled national accessibility to these telephone numbers and this year will donate several million Forints to support the goals of the Foundation.

In 2007 the European Commission adopted a resolution on the harmonized use of six-digit telephone numbers starting with 116 for socially useful purposes in the EU member states. The objective was to ensure that certain services which are important and useful for the society be accessible on harmonized telephone numbers, like the emergency number 112 used throughout Europe.

• The EU allocated the telephone number 116 111 for national children’s helpline services in the member states. The Blue Line Helpline Service for Children and Youth is the first member of the future network of helpline services for children to be operated according to standardized professional requirements and Hungary is the first country in Europe to introduce the harmonized telephone number allocated for helpline services for children.
• The EU allocated the telephone number 116 000 with the objective to offer help for missing children and adults searching for them in a harmonized way throughout Europe with the same professional standard. The telephone number 116 000 has been introduced and is being used already in Greece. The Blue Line “Are you there? Missing Children” service is the second in Europe to join the network to be created.

Both telephone numbers are accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year free of charge with direct dialing, i.e. without prefix.

Magyar Telekom has enabled national accessibility to these telephone numbers and this year will donate several million Forints to support the goals of the Foundation.