8. The Secretary introduced the draft Programme of Work for 2026. The representative of the European Union suggested that the Chairs of GRs reported on their new priorities included in the document (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/1). The Chair invited the GR Chairs to present them. WP.29 considered and adopted this document.

9. The representative of OICA, referring to paragraph 3.1.5 of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/1, noted that the Informal Working Group on Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) was dissolved, and that CLEPA would take over the remaining tasks related to approvals of separate technical units under the relevant UN Regulations. The representative of OICA also suggested that the pages 2 to 4 of the document be regularly updated. The Chair of WP.29, also Chair of the Working Party on General Safety Provisions (GRSG), informed WP.29 that GRSG may adjust its priorities at the April 2026 session, following a workshop held by experts from China and Germany on potential regulatory activities related to Door Opening Warning Systems (DOWS).

10. Based on WP.29-198-01-Rev.2, WP.29 took note of a revised list of the Working Parties, Informal Working Groups (IWGs) and Chairs (annex II).

11. WP.29 noted the calendar of sessions for 2026 (WP.29-198-02 and annex III). The representative of Canada and the GRVA Chair briefed WP.29 on the forthcoming informal meeting of GRVA in Montréal in May 2026. WP.29 was also informed that the twenty-sixth session of GRVA would take place in Geneva from 14 to 18 September 2026, following a swap with the session of the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1). WP.29 noted that a draft calendar for 2027 would be circulated at the June 2026 session. The representative of Canada requested that the usual months and sequence of meetings be kept. The representative of Japan proposed hosting WP.29 in Japan in the future and invited WP.29 to consider the possibility.

12. WP.29 noted that ITC, at its eight-eighth session in February 2026, had endorsed the WP.29 decision to hold an official session of WP.29 at the ECLAC premises in Santiago de Chile in November 2026, together with an informal meeting of WP.1 and joint side events to promote the WP.29 and WP.1 activities to the Latin American countries. The secretariat reported on the ongoing activities and challenges for preparing these meetings, including the need to reach quorum for the official part of the WP.29 session. The representatives of France, Japan, and Canada and the United States of America stressed its importance for the global outreach of WP.29. The representative of Sweden was positive to efforts reaching out globally, they added that the means of funding needed to be clarified due to the current budgetary situation. The representative of OICA stated that his organization stands ready to provide financial support to the meetings on actions safeguarding the neutrality of the discussion platform and on the condition of support from other sponsors.