Article 1Subject matter and scope

The numbering range beginning with ‘116’ shall be reserved in national numbering plans for harmonised numbers for harmonised services of social value.

The specific numbers within this numbering range and the services for which each number is reserved are listed in the Annex.

Article 2Harmonised service of social value

‘Harmonised service of social value’ is a service meeting a common description to be accessed by individuals via a freephone number, which is potentially of value to visitors from other countries and which answers a specific social need, in particular which contributes to the well-being or safety of citizens, or particular groups of citizens, or helps citizens in difficulty.

Article 3Reservation of specific numbers within the ‘116’ numbering range

Member States shall ensure that:

  1. (a)

    numbers listed in the Annex are used only for the services for which they have been reserved;

  2. (b)

    numbers within the ‘116’ numbering range that are not listed in the Annex are not used;

  3. (c)

    the number 116112 is neither assigned nor used for any service.

Article 4Conditions attached to the right of use for harmonised numbers

Member States shall attach the following conditions to the right of use of harmonised numbers for the provision of harmonised services of social value:

  1. (a)

    the service provides information, or assistance, or a reporting tool to citizens, or any combination thereof;

  2. (b)

    the service is open to all citizens without any requirement of prior registration;

  3. (c)

    the service is not time-limited;

  4. (d)

    there is no payment, or payment commitment as a pre-requisite to use the service;

  5. (e)

    the following activities are excluded during a call: advertisement, entertainment, marketing and selling, using the call for the future selling of commercial services.

In addition, Member States shall attach specific conditions to the right of use of harmonised numbers as set out in the Annex.

Article 5Assignment of harmonised numbers

1.

Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that as from the 31 August 2007 the competent National Regulatory Authority can assign the numbers referred to in the Annex.

2.

The listing of a specific number and the associated harmonised service of social value does not carry an obligation for Member States to ensure that the service in question is provided within their territory.

3.

Once a number has been listed in the Annex, Member States shall make known at national level that the specific number is available for the provision of the associated harmonised service of social value, and that applications for the rights of use for this specific number may be submitted.

4.

Member States shall ensure that a register of all harmonised numbers, with their associated harmonised services of social value, available in their territory is maintained. The register shall be easily accessible to the public.

Article 6Monitoring

Member States shall report periodically to the Commission on the actual use of numbers listed in the Annex for the provision of the related services within their territory.

Article 7Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.