9. The 137th session of WP.29/AC.2 (22 November 2021) 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), 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 Chair of the 1997 Agreement Administrative Committee (AC.4) (Russian Federation), the Vice-Chair of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) (Russian Federation) and by the representatives of the European Union.
10. Prior to its scheduled meeting on 22 November 2021, AC.2 held an ad-hoc virtual informal meeting on 2 November 2021 related to the special procedures during COVID-19 period in order to enable business continuity for WP.29 and its subsidiary bodies.
11. AC.2 took note of the special procedures during COVID-19 period, which had been adopted under silence procedure on 12 November 2021 and was informed about the results of the written voting procedures, which took place from 16 and 19 November 2021, for AC.1 and AC.3 items envisaged for voting in accordance with the agenda of the 185th session of the World Forum.
12. On 9 July 2021, AC.2 held an additional ad-hoc virtual informal meeting concerning the future of the Database for the Exchange of Type Approvals (DETA). The group discussed the potential broadening of its current scope to address the needs of 1997 and 1998 Agreement Contracting Parties (CPs). It also discussed potential additional functions that could be developed for the purpose of exchange information on automated vehicles technology and software, as an option of interest for 1998 Agreement Contracting. AC.2 concluded that the considerations on broadening the scope of DETA would continue within the IWG on DETA for the time being. AC.2 encouraged a broad participation of CPs of all three Agreements serviced by WP.29 in upcoming meetings of the IWG on DETA, in particular CPs of the 1997 and 1998 Agreements.
13. AC.2 resumed consideration of the Nomination/Voting of Chair/Vice-Chairs within the WP.29 family of expert groups. AC.2 identified a number of possible options that could be developed to increase the geographical representation in the leadership and to better reflect the global role of WP.29. AC.2 decided to hold an ad-hoc session dedicated to this point before the next session.
14. AC.2 reviewed the calendar of meetings for 2022. AC.2 urged the secretariat to move the currently proposed dates for the GRVA session in May 2022 as well as the WP.29 session in November 2022 at appropriate dates to allow broad participations of the delegations.
15. AC.2 resumed consideration related to potential breach of copyrights and/or intellectual property rights (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1159, para. 16). AC.2 invited the secretariat to prepare a short document aimed at informing stakeholders preparing documents, presentations and papers for review at WP.29, its subsidiary bodies and its IWGs, on author’s role when preparing them. AC.2 invited the secretariat to consult with the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) in New York as this issue was considered as a UN-wide one.
16. AC.2 reviewed the draft for a programme of work for 2022, which was based on the input provided by the GRs and noted that amendments could be integrated in the document, following the next session of GRSP in December 2021. AC.2 noted a draft programme of work of the European Union presented by the European Commission, related to activities covered under WP.29. AC.2 agreed to organize an ad-hoc session dedicated to review of the draft programme of work as prepared by the Secretariat prior to the next session. AC.2 welcomed the list of priorities for 2023 that could form the basis for the next programme of work.
17. AC2 discussed the coordination of work on Automated Driving Systems (ADS). AC.2, for the sake of global harmonization, decided tasking:
Note: AC.2, in consultation with the Chairs of GRVA and GRE, will confirm deadlines during the March 2022 session of AC.2.
18. AC.2 approved participation by the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets to WP.29 and subsidiary bodies under Rule 1(d) for the next two years.
19. AC.2 invited the Clean Air Association to participate in the next session of GRPE, upon invitation by the Chair under Rules 1(e), to present their activities. AC.2 invited the Automotive Open System Architecture (AUTOSAR) to participate in the next session of GRVA, upon invitation by the Chair under Rules 1(e), to present their activities.
20. AC.2 was informed on the outcome of the third session of the IWG on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) held on 19 November 2021. AC.2 welcomed the secretariat initiative to organize series of webinars on actions of the revised UNECE roadmap on ITS. AC.2 endorsed the request for more frequent meetings of the IWG, the next one being expected in June 2022.
21. AC.2 recommended AC.4 not to convene.
22. The representative of OICA commented on the issue of the possibility of an ADS lamp (see paragraph 17 above), considering that the matter should be closely coordinated with WP.1 in order to avoid possible contradictions.