BELGRADE – The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community has published the Roadmap for 112/eCall Implementation and Emergency Response to Transport Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods in the Western Balkans, setting out a regional path towards faster emergency communication, stronger preparedness and better coordinated response across the region.
The Roadmap brings together two closely connected priorities: the implementation of the 112 Single European Emergency Number and eCall infrastructure, and the development of coordinated emergency response capabilities for transport incidents involving dangerous goods. Together, these elements form the basis for a safer, more reliable and more resilient transport system across the Western Balkans.
Every day, dangerous goods such as fuels, chemicals, gases and other hazardous materials move across the region’s roads, railways and waterways. While most of these shipments are carried out safely, recent incidents in the wider region have shown that strong prevention, rapid notification, specialised response capacity and cross-border coordination are essential when emergencies occur.
The Roadmap underlines that effective emergency response starts with rapid and reliable notification through 112. Supported by technologies such as Advanced Mobile Location and eCall, emergency services can receive more accurate information, locate incidents faster and dispatch the right response teams without delay.
At the same time, the document identifies the need to strengthen dangerous goods emergency response capabilities across the region. This includes improved training, specialised HAZMAT equipment, standard operating procedures, corridor-specific planning and stronger cooperation between emergency communication centres, civil protection authorities, transport institutions and first responders.
A key part of the Roadmap is the development of National Dangerous Goods Emergency Response Plans by each regional partner. These plans will be tailored to national circumstances while following common regional principles and supporting cross-border interoperability.
The Roadmap also provides detailed 112/eCall implementation fiches for the Western Balkans, identifying the current state of emergency communication systems, key gaps, proposed improvement measures, timelines and indicative investment needs.
The document stets a shared objective: by 2028, every regional partner should have a functioning 112 system meeting EU standards, operational eCall capability and an endorsed National Dangerous Goods Emergency Response Plan integrated with cross-border coordination mechanisms.
The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community will support implementation through technical assistance, coordination, monitoring and regular dialogue with regional partners and relevant institutions.
By strengthening emergency communication and response systems, the Western Balkans will move closer to EU standards while improving the safety of citizens, transport workers, businesses and communities along key regional and European corridors.
The full Roadmap is available in our Studies and Reports website section or by clicking here.
