MEP Maria Walsh calls for EU-wide emergency number following cross-border tragedy

In a letter addressed to Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh and her fellow co-chairs of the European Parliament’s Mental Health Intergroup have called for urgent action to ensure emergency calls can be seamlessly transferred between Member States.

While 112 is recognised as a common emergency number across the European Union, Walsh argues that it does not guarantee operational coordination between national services. At present, emergency operators in one country cannot automatically forward calls to the relevant authorities in another — a gap she says can have devastating consequences.

“We urgently need an EU-wide emergency phone number that works in practice, not just on paper,” Mayo native Walsh said.

Her call follows a tragic incident last December involving a young Estonian girl who attempted to seek help after realising during a video call that her Italian friend was in immediate danger. After dialling 112, she was reportedly informed that the Estonian emergency operator could not connect her directly to Italian emergency services and was advised to search online for the appropriate number. During the delay, the Italian teenager died by suicide. The Estonian girl later attempted to take her own life.

READ MORE: Mayo TD hosts Margaret Loftus at Leinster House to push for Justice reform

Walsh described the case as “a heartbreaking example of a system that isn’t fit for purpose,” arguing that Europe’s increasingly interconnected population requires emergency systems that reflect cross-border realities.

“Thousands of Irish people live, work, study and build relationships across the EU and our emergency systems must reflect that reality,” she said. “If an Irish person raises the alarm, the system should respond wherever the emergency is happening.”

The Midlands-North-West representative said that as the EU acknowledges the growing scale of the mental health crisis, it must now take concrete steps to equip citizens with practical tools to intervene when someone is in danger.

“This is a practical, achievable step that would save lives,” Walsh added.

The European Commission has not yet publicly responded to the proposal.