April 10, 2008 McCann parents seek Amber Alert in Europe Play video

(NECN/ABC) - The parents of the missing English girl Madeleine McCann appealed to the European Union Thursday to adopt the same Amber Alert system that's in place in the U.S.

Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared during a family vacation in Portugal. Her parents believe with help from the U.S. there is still hope she will be found.

It has been nearly a year since Madeleine went missing and her parents haven't given up hope. They're focusing their efforts on a missing child alert system in Europe.

Madeleine went missing during a family holiday in Portugal last May. Since then, the McCanns have received both sympathy and suspicion.

The Amber Alert system is a voluntary partnership between law, transportation and media outlets. It has saved nearly 400 children since it began. Only France has a similar program.

ABC's Gloria Riviera reports.