15. The Secretary of WP.29 introduced the list of Working Parties, Informal Working Groups and Chairs (WP.29-183-01), the revised calendar of meetings of the World Forum (WP.29-182-02/Rev.2), and presented the revised Programme of Work (PoW) with a strategic introduction on the main priorities of the WP.29 work, which are related to the implementation of the ITC strategy 2030 and among others, to vehicle automation and environmental protection. (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/1).

16. The representative of Germany, Chair of GRVA, informed WP.29 that the GR had planned to hold three meetings during 2022 and asked that the secretariat envisages those when setting the calendar for 2022. He proposed that two of those meetings could be held at venues outside Geneva, one of which in Asia and the second in North America to emphasize and promote the global scope of activities within the World Forum and of UNECE.

17. The representative of the European Union introduced document WP.29-183-13, containing proposals for amendments to the PoW (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/1) by the European Commission. She invited Contracting Parties to share with the World Forum Subsidiary Bodies their priorities for work for the years 2021 and 2022. She had called on stakeholders to ensure the finalization of the PoW for 2022 before the end of 2021.

18. WP.29 considered the programme of work of WP.29 and Subsidiary Bodies, document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/1 and endorsed it provisionally pending final adoption at its June session. Further amendments were expected to be introduced in the 2021 PoW revision for consideration at the June 2021 WP.29 session. Contracting Parties were invited to submit to the secretariat their comments to the PoW by 23 May 2021. WP.29-183-13 is reproduced in Annex V to this report.

19. The European Commission recalled their submitted contribution to the PoW on behalf of the European Union (informal document WP.29-183-13) and urged Contracting Parties to provide inputs to the PoW in timely manner allowing to establish it with sufficient lead time that would provide for preparation and consensus building prior to its adoption.