8. The Electric Vehicle Safety (IWG) Chair and Chair of GRSP on behalf of the co-sponsors (China, Japan, United States of America, European Union (EU)) and of the members of IWG GTR No. 20, Phase 2, reported on the progress (GRSP-74-33-Rev.2) of the Group. He concluded that at the twenty-seventh meeting of the EVS IWG in Tokyo, Japan, the IWG attempted to reach consensus on one or a technically appropriate combination of the positions outlined in the progress report and that it was not able to prepare a draft unified proposal for amendment to UN GTR No. 20 to meet its mandate (set to expire December 2023 unless extended).

9. The representative of European Commission, Vice Chair of the EVS IWG, speaking on behalf of the EU Member States, informed GRSP that they would not support the extension of the mandate of the IWG. Moreover, he clarified that they would, with support of other Contracting Parties, focus on finalising the work of EVS IWG Phase 2 within the framework of the 1958 Agreement. He also informed GRSP that an ad-hoc Special Interest Group was to be formally established (GRSP-74-35, terms of reference (ToR)) to develop a model regulation regarding the safety of electric vehicles with a focus on thermal propagation requirements. Moreover, he added that this proposal would amend UN Regulation No. 100 and would equally serve as the basis for different national regulations beyond the framework of the 1958 Agreement. The EU experts present at the GRSP session concurred with the position of the representative from EC. The representative of the United States of America argued that this approach was premature (since the mandate of the EVS IWG was not yet expired) and asked GRSP to suspend any decision on the way forward until December 20, 2023, when the Special session of the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement would be convened to decide the future activities of the EVS IWG (extension of the mandate).

10. GRSP Chair suspended the above discussion for lack of agreement awaiting the outcome of results of the above-mentioned Special session of AC.3.