Services that will be offered under the 116 numbering range are referred to as Harmonised European Short Codes. What does this mean?

According to the Commission Decision a Harmonised European Short Code is a "service meeting a common description to be accessed by individuals via a freephone number, which is potentially of value to visitors from other countries and which answers a specific social need in particular which contributes to the well-being or safety of citizens, or particular groups of citizens, or helps citizens in difficulty." When EU citizens travelling in Malta and Maltese citizens travelling abroad, dial any number in the 116 numbering range, they will expect to find a comparable type of service to the one they have in their own country, if such a service is offered in that particular country to which they are travelling.