28 EU member states agree for timely deployment of connected and autonomous cars

The European Automotive and Telecom Alliance (EATA) has said it will support the push by EU member states to address challenges for getting connected and automated vehicles on Europe’s roads in a far-reaching, coordinated manner.

Ministers from the 28 EU member states have agreed on a range of important actions to facilitate timely deployment of connected and automated vehicles, at the third high-level meeting on Connected and Automated Driving (CAD), held on June 19, 2018.

EATA states it underlined the need for coherent policy making in the domain, with coordination among the European Union, its member states and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The EATA members also presented their position on several regulatory initiatives to the national transport ministers, the European Commission and all other stakeholders. In reacting to the proposed EU Cybersecurity Act, EATA stressed the importance of properly involving industry players in the elaboration of future certification schemes and insisted on the need for schemes to remain voluntary in nature.

On the draft of specific data protection rules for communications services, the Alliance confirmed its commitment to continue protecting privacy as a core value. In this context, EATA called on participants to ensure fair and harmonised rules for all citizens and businesses, in line with applicable general data protection rules (GDPR).

EATA also stressed the increasing political attention for creating cross-border testing sites for CAD across Europe. It welcomed the focus on deployment and urged adequate coordination of testing activities as well as funding opportunities at both the EU and national level. The members of the alliance state the fully supported the Commission’s proposal to launch a single EU-wide platform in 2018, grouping all relevant public and private stakeholders.

Erik Jonnaert, chairman of the Steering Committee of EATA, said: "The European automotive and telecom sectors are looking forward to continuing their constructive dialogue with all relevant national and EU authorities, as well as associated agencies, in order to make the rapid deployment of connected and automated driving in Europe a reality".