Marseilles (AFP)

A single platform bringing together all calls to emergency numbers will be tested from 2022, for two years, at the scale of a wider region, Emmanuel Macron announced on Saturday at the National Congress of Firefighters in Marseille.

By announcing this experiment, which will test three types of platforms for calls to the 15th, 17th and 18th, the Head of State thus acts in advance of a flagship provision of the Matras bill about to be adopted. in Parliament.

For this subject which has been debated in France for years, the Head of State welcomed the choice of experimentation.

"The only objective is to improve the care of victims, together, red and white," he said, referring to firefighters and health personnel.

Concretely, a single platform will be tested where calls will arrive at 15 (Samu), 17 (police-rescue) and 18 (firefighters);

another only for calls to 15 and 18;

and a third grouping together calls to 15 and medical emergencies.

The objective is to send the most suitable help to callers as quickly as possible, knowing that several European countries have already grouped calls for help in a single number, 112.

The Head of State also approved in advance other provisions of the future Matras law, intended in particular to improve the status of volunteer firefighters, which should be voted in a few weeks.

Thus he confirmed the abolition of the employer wage premium on the fire premium allowing an average monthly gain of 45 euros.

This measure eagerly awaited by the firefighters will be included in the bill on the financing of social security, he said.

Another gesture, he announced the revaluation of the reimbursement of ambulance deficiencies (Editor's note: when firefighters intervene in place of ambulance attendants) to at least 200 euros instead of 124 euros currently, as well as the implementation of a reform to enforce it. reduce the number.

Civil security will be integrated into the law on internal security (LOPSI), he confirmed, with the key to renewing the entire helicopter fleet and ordering two additional helicopters from early 2022.

Finally, he promised the extension of the new loyalty and recognition bonus to all those who have more than 15 years of service (against 20 currently), as well as the creation of the quality of ward of the Republic for the children of firefighters killed in the performance of their duties.

© 2021 AFP