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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| McCanns lobby MEPs on alert plan | McCanns lobby MEPs on alert plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The parents of missing Madeleine McCann are visiting the European Parliament to gain support for a Europe-wide alert system for abducted children. | The parents of missing Madeleine McCann are visiting the European Parliament to gain support for a Europe-wide alert system for abducted children. |
| Gerry and Kate McCann need the backing of 393 MEPs to ensure that their proposal is published by the EU. | Gerry and Kate McCann need the backing of 393 MEPs to ensure that their proposal is published by the EU. |
| But some MEPs have shown "a complete lack of understanding" of the need for an alert system, Mr McCann has said. | But some MEPs have shown "a complete lack of understanding" of the need for an alert system, Mr McCann has said. |
| Madeleine, then aged three, of Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal last May. | Madeleine, then aged three, of Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal last May. |
| Amber Alert | Amber Alert |
| The McCanns believe that a European version of the US Amber Alert system would have helped the search for their daughter in the crucial hours after her disappearance. | The McCanns believe that a European version of the US Amber Alert system would have helped the search for their daughter in the crucial hours after her disappearance. |
| Some of the responses that have been sent display a complete lack of understanding in what we hope to achieve Gerry McCann | Some of the responses that have been sent display a complete lack of understanding in what we hope to achieve Gerry McCann |
| The US system enables an early warning to be given via the media across the country when police confirm a child has been abducted. | The US system enables an early warning to be given via the media across the country when police confirm a child has been abducted. |
| The couple launched their campaign in April but now fear time is running out in their bid to achieve formal recognition of the scheme. | The couple launched their campaign in April but now fear time is running out in their bid to achieve formal recognition of the scheme. |
| Although publication of the proposal would carry no legal weight in the European Union, the McCanns believe it would help them win the moral argument over whether such a cross-border system is needed. | Although publication of the proposal would carry no legal weight in the European Union, the McCanns believe it would help them win the moral argument over whether such a cross-border system is needed. |
| So far the couple have collected the names of 211 MEPs, but they need the signatures of 182 before July 24 if the declaration is to be sent to the EU president and published. | |
| Speaking in the latest blog on the Find Madeleine website, Mr McCann revealed his frustrations in persuading MEPs that such a system is needed. | Speaking in the latest blog on the Find Madeleine website, Mr McCann revealed his frustrations in persuading MEPs that such a system is needed. |
| He said: "Some of the responses that have been sent display a complete lack of understanding in what we hope to achieve. | He said: "Some of the responses that have been sent display a complete lack of understanding in what we hope to achieve. |
| Hotline | Hotline |
| "For example, some have said they will not sign because such a system is already in place with the 116 000 hotline number. | "For example, some have said they will not sign because such a system is already in place with the 116 000 hotline number. |
| "Firstly, this number for missing children is only operational in one out of 27 European countries (Greece) so far. | "Firstly, this number for missing children is only operational in one out of 27 European countries (Greece) so far. |
| "Secondly, the number does not mean an Amber Alert will be issued for an abducted child as no such system exists - hence the written declaration. | "Secondly, the number does not mean an Amber Alert will be issued for an abducted child as no such system exists - hence the written declaration. |
| "Thirdly, we are looking for cross-border co-operation between member states when a child is abducted. Hopefully, with more lobbying, we can get the declaration accepted." | "Thirdly, we are looking for cross-border co-operation between member states when a child is abducted. Hopefully, with more lobbying, we can get the declaration accepted." |
| The couple are due to stage a press conference on Tuesday evening at the end of their day of campaigning in Strasbourg. | The couple are due to stage a press conference on Tuesday evening at the end of their day of campaigning in Strasbourg. |