12. The 139th session of WP.29/AC.2 (20 June 2022) was chaired by Mr. A. Erario (Italy), Chair of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), and was attended**, in accordance to Rule 29 of the terms of reference and rules of procedure of WP.29 (TRANS/WP.29/690/Rev.2) by the Chairs of GRBP (France), GRE (Finland), GRPE (Netherlands), GRSG (Italy), GRSP (United States of America), GRVA (Germany), the Vice-Chairs of GRBP (Russian Federation), GRE (Netherlands), GRPE (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), GRSG (represented by Canada delegate), GRSP (Republic of Korea), GRVA (China and Japan), the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Executive Committee (AC.3) of the 1998 Agreement (United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan), the Vice-Chair of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) (Russian Federation) and by the representatives of the European Union.

**Remote participation

13. Prior to its scheduled meeting on 21 June 2022, AC.2 held an ad-hoc virtual informal meeting on 27 May 2022 related to the special procedures during COVID-19 period in order to enable business continuity for WP.29 and its subsidiary bodies.

14. AC.2 took note of the special procedures during COVID-19 period, which had been adopted under silence procedure on 27 May 2022 and was informed about the results of the written voting procedures, which took place from 14 to 17 June 2022, for AC.1 and AC.3 items envisaged for voting in accordance with the agenda of the 187th session of the World Forum.

15. AC.2 resumed considerations on a presentation by the European Commission on a potential Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy suitable for WP.29 and its subsidiary bodies.

16. AC.2 reviewed the updated calendar for 2022 and the draft calendar for 2023. AC.2 welcomed the first draft of programme of work for 2023 and invited GRs to provide inputs related to their respective activities/priorities.

17. AC.2 recommended that the election of officers’ process be followed if no consensus was expected. AC.2 would provide guidance to the secretariat as it relates to the election process for the GRs.

18. AC.2 considered the proposal from GRVA to host meetings outside of Geneva in 2023 or 2024. to enable participation of Contracting Party representation from the Asia Pacific. AC.2 supported asking Contracting parties to potentially host these meetings.

19. AC.2 received an update on the work of GRVA and automated vehicles related activities:

1. AC.2 recommended to extend the mandates for the Informal Working Groups (IWG) on Functional Requirements for Automated and Autonomous Vehicles (FRAV) and Validation Methods for Automated Driving (VMAD) by two years;
2. AC.2 noted industry’s vision for an Automated Driving Systems (ADS) certification scheme by 2025;
3. AC.2 invited GRVA to deliver an updated annex to the Framework Document by November 2022;
4. AC.2 recommended WP.29 to discuss the format, content and deliverables of future cooperation with WP.1 and provide the related mandate to GRVA, if any; and
5. AC.2 recommended the GRs to consider using the template in GRVA-13-18 when screening UN GTRs and UN Regulations with regards to ADS.

20. AC.2 approved participation of AUTOSAR and Kenya Auto-Bazaar Association (KABA) to WP.29 and subsidiary bodies under Rule 1(d) for the next two years and renewed the approval for The Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA), International Association of the Body and Trailer Building Industry (CLCCR), European Agricultural Machinery (CEMA), The Retread Industry’s Trade Association (BIPAVER), European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP), Federation of International Motorcycling (FIM), Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP) and World Bicycle Industry Association (WBIA).

21. AC. 2 noted the topic raised by GRSP under the equitable protection of occupants and requested GRSP to continue gathering scientific evidence to verify the merit of the claim of the expert of UNECE Trade’s WP.6. Representatives from United States of America and European Commission considered this topic as premature and not of highest priority as long as substantive evidence would be provided.

22. AC.2 recommended WP.29 to confirm that GRSP was the proper UNECE/ITC working group for passive safety vehicle provisions. The representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland highlighted that this assessment should be inclusive addressing inter alia stature and mass of all occupants.

23. Following a presentation from the secretariat on the topic of unattended children left in cars, AC.2 invited representatives of contracting parties to gather information and assess its urgency. GRSG, GRE and GRBP were invited to reflect the outcome in their priorities of work.

24. AC.2 recommended AC.4 not to convene.