Joint statement by Commissioners Oettinger, Bulc and Gabriel, on cooperative, connected and automated mobility

“Cooperative, connected and automated mobility is becoming a reality for EU citizens.

Together with Member States we have today agreed on actions to strengthen cross-border collaboration on testing.

With the discussions held at the margins of the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Member States and industry commit to cross-border testing in Finland, Norway and Sweden. These new tests will complement tests already taking place between Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. We soon expect more Member States to make commitments to such tests. Member States have also tasked the Commission to develop a common European approach to testing, to ensure that smart vehicles can travel smoothly across Europe.

We have an opportunity we cannot miss: Europe can lead in the field of connected mobility, but for this, all Member States and industry have to work together closely and move into the same direction. There is no time to lose.

Connected and automated mobility builds on the Digital Single Market strategy and is an integral part of the Commission’s strategy on low emission mobility and the 2018 Mobility Package. We therefore need to advance quickly with all relevant proposals under these strategies, above all the updated EU telecoms rules to boost investments in high-speed and quality networks and the Commission’s Masterplan on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Services.

Therefore, we call on co-legislators to act swiftly on all proposals already presented.“

Background

On 23 March 2017, 27 Member States plus Norway and Switzerland upon invitation of the EU Commission signed a Letter of Intent committing to work together on large scale testing and demonstrations in the area of connected and automated driving. This Letter of Intent addresses the digital aspects, such as connectivity, spectrum, data, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence etc.

Under the Dutch Presidency, in April 2016, the EU Member States also signed the Declaration of Amsterdam on Cooperation in the field of connected and automated driving. The Declaration establishes shared objectives, a joint agenda and proposes actions for both Member States and the Commission. It does not have a formal governance structure but the intention is to meet at a high-level once or twice a year under a rotating chairpersonship. The last meeting took place on 14 and 15 September 2017. In their conclusions Member States entrusted the Commission with setting up a task force to develop a European approach to testing.

For more information

Cooperative, connected and automated mobility: stepping up the efforts in Frankfurt

The High Level Group for the automotive industry GEAR2030;

The C-ITS Strategy and the C-ITS Platform addressing transport policy for Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems, including its relation to cooperative, connected and automated mobility;

The various research projects in Horizon2020;

Other relevant digital initiatives include the 5G Action Plan (in which automotive is one of the verticals treated), the Digitising European Industry strategy and the Communication on Building a European Data Economy.