ATHENS – It hasn’t happened yet despite a long line of assurances it would by successive governments and now the new New Democracy administration is taking a stab at trying to get working the pan-European Union 112 emergency phone number operating by year’s end.

Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, speaking at an event organized by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, said authorities have resolved important problems of the system, such as including the required software in all smartphone brands, said Kathimerini.

The secretariat’s head, Nikos Hardalias, said the call-free 112 number will only be used in a “great emergencies” as its purpose is to assist in difficult circumstances which is why it’s called an emergency number. The line will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will allow the immediate location of the caller.

In August, an interim solution went into effect for 112, with two call centers set up temporarily where staff could send messages to their mobile phones.