Missing children alert receives €1m of EU funding
Posted, April 30, 2009 @ 15:00
McMillan-Scott congratulates commission on responding to MEPs' demands
Brussels, 29th April 2009 -- A proposal to develop missing child alert mechanisms across Europe, sponsored by Conservative Vice-President of the European Parliament Edward-McMillan-Scott and supported by Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of Madeleine, missing since May 3 2007, has received a million Euros (GBP 900,000) of funding from the European Commission.
McMillan-Scott launched a cross-party sponsored Written Declaration at a press conference with the McCanns in Brussels last April. It called on the EU to improve cooperation on missing children, particularly by setting up a missing child alert system which would immediately forward relevant details such as a photo to all news media, border authorities and law enforcement agencies. The child alert would be modelled on the 'Amber Alert' system in the USA which has caused over 400 children to be recovered.
The Written Declaration received 413 MEP signatures by September 2008. As over half the MEPs signed, the declaration therefore became a formal resolution of the whole parliament.
The Commission has put a pilot project out to tender. It is seeking proposals for child alert mechanisms and to improve cooperation between EU member states. Although the total budget is €1 million, it will be used for between four and ten projects aimed at improving child abduction procedures.
Mr McMillan-Scott said:
"When a child goes missing, the first 72 hours are crucial. Currently European countries fail to cooperate effectively when recovering missing children.
"We need a system in place that will transmit the picture and details of an abducted child into every conceivable place. Experience of those countries that have alert systems in place, such as the USA, is extremely positive.
"The response from MEPs to our Written Declaration was phenomenal. We sent a strong signal to the European Commission that we need action and to their credit the Commission has responded.
"We need some technical solutions to this tragic problem. Kate and Gerry McCann have been fantastic in supporting this initiative which will hopefully stop other parents from going through their heart-breaking ordeal."