Disaster Management Minister Emel Etem said on June 13 that two more major call centres handling European emergency number 112 calls would become operational as early as on July 3 2008.

The two call centres are in Sofia and Rousse Etem said in a media statement. They would service the south-western region and the central-north region, including Sofia municipality and Sofia region, Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Rousse, Veliko Tunovo, Gabrovo, Silistra and Razgrad.

In September 2008, two more centres would be opened, in Bourgas and Montana, Etem said. The last two major call centres, in Kurdjali and Varna, would be opened on October 1 2008.

Bulgaria has delayed the introduction of the emergency number, prompting the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against the country because of the delay. The Interior, Disaster Management and Health Ministry are in charge