31/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 30 March, the Transport Council approved the action plan proposed by the European Commission in December 2008 with a view to ensuring better coordination and harmonisation in the setting in place of intelligent transport systems (ITS). At a later date, transport ministers are expected to examine the directive that completes the action plan laying down the framework for deployment of ITS in the road sector. The Commission is called on to examine, by the end of 2011, aspects relating to the protection of personal and security data necessary within the ITS framework. The Council also supported the development of universal traffic messages proposed in the plan, which could be diffused to users free of charge for communication of road safety-related data, among other things. The ITS will be the focus of discussion at the informal meeting of transport ministers to be held in Litomerice, in the Czech Republic, on 29 April. (A.By./transl.jl)