on all three occasions, the first words out of the controllers mouth were: “Are you declaring an emergency”
Coincides with my experience in the US also - whilst I haven't said the words myself, I have heard others get the same response to a "PAN PAN".
Also, whilst training in the simulator in the US (and Canada), 9/10 times I've declared a PAN PAN or a MAYDAY, the sim instructor (playing ATC) has asked, "Are you declaring an emergency?"
So, recently I've always "played the game" and "Declared an emergency" in the sim - funnily enough, on my very last sim session when I did that, the sim instructor said "You really should declare a MAYDAY or PAN PAN"!!!
