Although the European Commission is intending to present is strategy to ensure the expansion of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) on Wednesday, a provisional version of it was leaked on Monday 28 November, which EUROPE has been able to examine.
It should be pointed out that intelligent transport systems involve the implementation of infrastructure and services necessary to ensure the expansion of connected cars by 2019 and, in the long-term, autonomous cars in line with the Declaration of Amsterdam (see EUROPE 11532, 11533).
In its strategy, the Commission recommends starting a two-phase period for beginning the implementation of the technology required for promoting the expansion of C-ITS and in this regard it draws up two lists of services: - the Day 1 C-ITS services list, Hazardous location notifications and the Signage applications), which indicate, for example, speed limits; - and the Day 1,5 C-ITS services list, which focuses on less crucial information, such as the places where recharging and petrol stations are located, as well as available parking places. In this context, the Commission wants to take full advantage of the financial funds and instruments available (Connecting Europe Facility, European Funds for Strategic Investment and structural and investment funds) that help towards the fast track deployment of Day 1 services. The Commission also wants to provide financing through the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme in an effort to develop Day 1,5 services.
On the question of communication security, the Commission is seeking to pilot the development of a communication certification and security policy and is looking at the publication of guidelines (‘guideance’) on this point in 2017. In this regard, the Commission will also examine the areas where it is due to play a “proactive” role, such as in the development of “digital tachographs”.
On the question of respect for private life, the Commission is seeking to publish guidelines in 2018. It also explains that the initiatives on the introduction of the C-ITS will need to be done at the same time as information campaigns to ensure user confidence. It is also seeking to develop, in partnership with the European data protection authorities, a sector based Data Protection Impact Assessment template for examining the introduction of new C-ITS applications.
With regard to frequency and communication technologies, the Commission is calling on the road authorities, service providers and car manufacturers to adopt a communication strategy on “Hybrids”, which will help put in place C-ITS ‘Day 1’ services as early as possible. The Commission will provide assistance in view of developing protection against interference in the frequencies used within the C-ITS services at European and international levels, as part of the discussions at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The strategy then seeks to tackle the challenges of interoperability between the different modes of transport, infrastructure, data, services, applications and networks. In this regard, the Commission is calling on the appropriate stakeholders involved in the C-Roads platform to develop a compliance assessment. The Commission explains that the initiatives on the deployment of C-ITS services must include an approval assessment procedure for Day 1 services and that they are made available to third parties. If the Commission considers it necessary, it will adopt delegated acts to reduce any legal uncertainty relating to the expansion of the services in 2018. (Original Version in French by Pascal Hansens)