2. The Chair of the World Forum welcomed the representatives to the World Forum and introduced the opening speakers, the Officer-in-Charge of the UNECE Sustainable Transport Division and the representatives of the European Union funded EuroMed Transport Support Project.

3. The Officer-in-Charge of the UNECE Sustainable Transport Division welcomed the delegates to the World Forum. He informed delegates on staffing matters in the Sustainable Transport Division. The newly appointed Director of the Sustainable Transport Division, Mr. Yuwei Li is an experienced United Nations officer who currently heads the Transport Division of ESCAP, and who will assume the post as of February 2018. The Officer-in-Charge also informed the World Forum that Mr. M. Gangonells, the Secretary of the WP.29 Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE), had left the United Nation system. He further announced that Mr. F. Guichard would temporarily assume the role of Secretary of GRPE until a new staff member was recruited.

4. WP.29 acknowledged the exceptional work of Mr. Gangonells and wished him all the best for his new responsibilities.

5. The Officer-in-Charge informed the World Forum about the ongoing transition of activities within the United Nations organization, towards their systemic alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context he emphasized the role of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC), and particularly the work of the World Forum in efforts towards achieving safety, environment and energy related Sustainable Development Goals. He informed the World Forum that the proposal for ITC’s 2030 strategy was in development and that it will form the basis of discussions that will take place at the eightieth session of ITC (20-23 February 2018, Geneva). He invited delegates of member State to attend the ITC session and actively take part in the discussions.

6. The Team Leader of the EuroMed Transport Support Project introduced the project, the countries from North Africa and the Middle-East that are taking part, the activities carried out within its scope and the achieved and expected results. The project would conclude in 2020. He explained that the current project was a continuation of the EuroMed Road, Rail and Urban Transport project, which came to its conclusion in 2016. The objectives of the current project were to contribute to the creation of an integrated transport system in the Mediterranean through facilitating and assisting regulatory convergence among the countries. Four key action areas of the project were efficient land transport systems, international land transport haulage, road safety and urban transport. The overall aim of the project was to improve the sustainability of transport systems in the region, including its safety and environmental aspects. He emphasized the points of convergence between the EuroMed project and the international agreements of the United Nations and the opportunities available to countries in the region with regard to acceding to United Nations legal instruments in the field of transport. Namely, the project has identified thirteen United Nations transport legal instruments as key for developing transport systems in the project beneficiary countries. The list included the three United Nations Agreements addressing vehicles (the 1958, 1997 and 1998 Agreements).

7. The Senior Vehicle Regulations Expert of the EuroMed project introduced activities of the project aimed at promoting and supporting the accession of beneficiary countries to United Nations vehicle agreements. The process was carried out through a sequence of steps. The first was to introduce to beneficiary countries the legal framework for vehicle regulations in the United Nations system. The second step was a gap analysis of individual countries legal frameworks on road vehicles as compared to the United Nations system and the European Union legal framework in this field. Finally, based on the conducted country gap analysis and on discussions with the national administration stakeholders, the project would provide recommendations on changes to national legislations in the beneficiary countries. The project also would provide technical assistance to support national administrations in acceding to and applying the agreements. The EuroMed project expert updated WP.29 on the individual progress of EuroMed project beneficiary countries in acceding to and implementing United Nations vehicle agreements. The expert concluded his presentation by indicating that EuroMed project beneficiary countries face a series of individual challenges and needs for assistance in applying provisions of the United Nations vehicle agreements. He invited Contracting Parties and representatives of the industry to provide support to EuroMed countries to correctly implement the United Nations vehicle agreements.

8. To support the process of accession to the United Nations Agreements, WP.29 supported the proposal of EuroMed to prepare a brochure with a road map on accession to the 1958 and 1997 Agreements, to be reviewed by WP.29 at an upcoming session.

9. The representatives of OICA, IMMA and CLEPA commended the activities of the EuroMed project in the beneficiary countries. They expressed strong readiness of their organizations and members to provide, in accordance with their scope of activities and expertise, support to the EuroMed beneficiary countries. The representatives of the industry all emphasized that the system introduced through Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement presents a good opportunity for the countries to develop a harmonized legal framework for vehicle regulations. The representative of OICA added that, while an integrated, holistic, approach is necessary, it is also important to lay down a level playing field by defining the necessary legal requirements. He also stressed the importance to ensure that vehicle fleets are modernised.

10. Representatives of EuroMed beneficiary countries, high-level officials from the Governments of Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the State of Palestine and Tunisia: (a) provided information on their status of accession to and implementation of United Nations vehicle agreements, (b) expressed their country’s interest on the topics addressed by WP.29, and © informed the session about the ongoing efforts, achievements, challenges and needs.

11. The Chair of the World Forum thanked the representatives from EuroMed beneficiary countries for their statements and expressed the availability of the World Forum and Contracting Parties to provide support to their accession to United Nations vehicle agreements.