A great majority of 465 Members of the European Parliament from all 28 Member States and all 9 political groups support AMBER Alert Europe’s 5 point plan and call for better European cooperation on saving the lives of missing children. The Written Declaration is the most successful Declaration since 2011.

250 000 children are reported missing in the EU each year. When a child is abducted and killed, in 76% of cases the child was murdered within three hours of the abduction. The search for an endangered missing child often stagnates at internal borders while 37.5% of Europeans live in border areas.

Mr. Zdechovský, Member of European Parliament and initiator of this Declaration, is proud on this historic result and proposes the first step: “We call on the European Commission and European Council to adopt AMBER Alert Europe’s 5 point plan. This is crucial to improve European cooperation in saving the lives of endangered missing children”.

Improving European cooperation saves missing children

“Since the recommendation on child alerting in 2008, to little progress is made. This overwhelming support is a strong appeal from the European Parliament on the European Commission and Member States to reinvigorate the recommendation and act now”, says Frank Hoen, President of AMBER Alert Europe.

The successful Written Declaration calls on the European Commission and Member States to improve European cooperation in saving the lives of missing children in Europe, for example migrant children, by subscribing to AMBER Alert Europe’s 5-point plan:

1. Bigger, stronger AMBER Alert network
2. More flexibility in issuing AMBER Alerts
3. Better cross-border information sharing
4. Better cross-border law enforcement cooperation
5. Improving the identification and protection of children at borders

Written Declaration

The written declaration was initiated by Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE), Eleonora Evi (EFDD), Jana Žitňanská (ECR), Kinga Gál (PPE), Helga Stevens (ECR), Lefteris Christoforou (PPE), Roberta Metsola (PPE), Patricija Šulin (PPE), Dubravka Šuica (PPE), Theodoros Zagorakis (PPE), Catherine Stihler (S&D), Miriam Dalli (S&D), Renate Weber (ALDE), Philippe De Backer (ALDE), Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (PPE), Jeroen Lenaers (PPE), Indrek Tarand (Verts/ALE), Sophia in ‘t Veld (ALDE), Caterina Chinnici (S&D).

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NOTE TO THE EDITORS, NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Press information and photography on the topic can be found on the website: http://www.amberalert.eu/press/

For an overview of all AMBER Alert Europe members, please have a look at http://www.amberalert.eu/members/

About AMBER Alert Europe

AMBER Alert Europe is an international not for profit organisation with 22 members (law enforcement, ministries & NGOs) in 16 countries. Its Police Network consists of over 35 experts representing law enforcement from 12 EU countries. The goals of AMBER Alert Europe are backed by 465 Members of the European Parliament: most successful Written Declaration since 2011.

The ultimate goal of AMBER Alert Europe is to save the lives of endangered missing children in Europe.

Dedicated to the protection of endangered missing children, AMBER Alert Europe connects citizens with law enforcement when the police believe the public can help save the child’s life. It provides for training and cross-border coordination to law enforcement. As well as providing support in an advisory and knowledge-sharing role to its members and partners, who, together with the network of connected citizens, are on the lookout when a child goes missing across Europe.

More information: www.amberalert.eu

Questions? 

Please contact the AMBER Alert Europe Press office:
Email: press@amberalert.eu
Phone: +32 2 808 2159