18. The World Forum noted the position of GRE (WP.29-153-01) and GRSP (WP.29-153-09) on guidelines for establishing requirements for high-priority warning signals of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) (WP.29-150-22). The representative of the United Kingdom recalled that the lack of an agreed upon definition of ITS implies different levels of intelligent technology. He added that the main attempt of WP.29-150-22 is to define these different levels (or priorities) as a reference for future amendments to Regulations. WP.29 requested the informal group on ITS to finalize a consolidated proposal to be submitted at its June 2011 session for final adoption.

19. The World Forum noted that an ITS background document for information had been developed in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Transport and the Society for national motorway Initiatives (SINA) and that a strategic note had been prepared by the WP.29 secretariat.

20. The secretariat reported that a public consultation on the strategy of UNECE for ITS deployment had been launched in February 2011. The consultation addressed to all Governments and interested stakeholders would be closed on 31 May 2011. All information was available on the UNECE Transport Division website (see: www.unece.org/trans/events/2011/ITS_Public_Consultation.html). Contributions should be submitted via e-mail: consultation@unece.org.

21. Once the consultation is closed, the secretariat would finalize the strategic note and would present the UNECE Road Map on ITS as a final outcome of the whole process. With the Road Map, UNECE aimed at defining concrete actions to foster the deployment of ITS globally. Such actions could be: annual Round Tables, capacity building workshops, incorporating ITS into the work of all UNECE Working Parties through its legal instruments, etc.

22. The representative of the Russian Federation was of the opinion that innovation challenges in transport, such as ITS, should be solved on a global scale and in a harmonized way. Accordingly, he expressed support to the initiative and offered active cooperation from his country.