Growing MEP support for missing children alert system

More than 100 MEPs have so far signed a written declaration calling for a Europe-wide ‘amber alert’ missing child system.

The declaration waslaunched in parliament earlier this month by the British coupleKate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine has been missingfor a year.

In order to have formalstatus as a resolution, 393 of the 785 MEPs must sign thedeclaration. So far, 127 have done so.

The declaration will remainfor deputies to sign until July. A similar initiative failed twoyears ago.

British Tory MEP EdwardMcMillan-Scott, a vice president of parliament, helped organise theMcCanns' visit to Brussels.

“I support the McCannscompletely. Out of the agony of Madeleine’s disappearance they areadding the voice of their terrible experience,” he said.

“What is needed ispolitical will. The amber alert would cost nothing but would savechildren’s lives.

“Europe is opening up andnot only should every country have an amber alert, but sometimes across-frontier, or even a pan-European alert system would beappropriate.

“The time has come to geton with it. Most countries have a severe weather alert system - allwe need is to use the same mechanism for missingchildren.”

French interior ministerMichèle Alliot-Marie urged MEPs on a recent visit to to sign thedeclaration and said her country would push the adoption of such asystem as one of its priorities during its presidency of theEU.

If a majority of MEPs signthe declaration, it will be adopted by parliament without a vote.It is not legally binding but, rather, aims to encourage actionfrom member states and the commission.

The commission has beenpressing governments to set up such a system, but only hasone.

Since the amber alert beganin the in 2003, nearly 400 children have been recovered, 80 percent within the crucial first 72 hours.

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