F.N.AA and EASRA representatives signed the European "eCall" Memorandum of Understanding and met Cabinet of Vice-President Neelie Kroes' Policy Adviser, Mr. Lucas Josten with DG Connect experts, Mr. Emilio Davila Gonzalez and Mr. Pierpaolo Tona. 

They signed the European "eCall" Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last 18th September 2012, because of their willingness to actively contribute to the development and agreement of the "eCall" in-vehicle system, which should be accessible without discrimination to all stakeholders such as independent repair shops.

These family-run businesses of the Automotive after-market are important providers of roadside breakdown and rescue services throughout Europe. In the framework of the "eCall" implementation, they look forward to working closely with public authorities and emergency services to provide complementary roadside rescue services.

As they have earned customers' trust, who require their services, they consider that open choice for customers and open access for service providers should become part of the equipment manufacturer in-vehicle platform design criteria.

They agree FIA- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile 's statement calling the attention to the standards currently being developed for Third Part Service supported eCall ("TPS eCall"), which might be used by vehicle manufacturers and insurers to tie consumer even more tightly to their authorised network : "a closer look should be paid to the possibility of adding a breakdown call button next to the manual eCall button. Thus, overburdening the emergency services with non-emergency breakdown assistance calls would be avoided." 

Mr. René RIGAUD, EASRA Chairman stressed the need to ensure that consumers will have a special "eCall" button (panic button) for their emergency and another button (assist button) for vehicle questions, breakdown and rescue services. This is the best way to saving time to save lifes and also to really offer drivers freedom of choosing a repair shop in the neighborhood of the collision or the breakdown of the car. This solution can also be consistent with the need to reduce carbon emissions.

On the photo from right to left: Mr. Lucas Josten, Mr. René Rigaud, Mr. Emilio Davila Gonzalez and Mrs. Brigitte Castell