ALICE at High-Level Dialogue on Connected and Automated Driving

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

The High-Level Dialogue on Connected and Automated Driving took place on 18-19 June 2024 in Ghent, Belgium. This event, organised in the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, brought together key stakeholders from the transport sector, including heads of administration, national experts, representatives of the European Commission, and industry leaders.

The High-Level Dialogue aimed to explore and discuss the latest advances and coordinated next steps in the field of Connected and Automated Driving (CAD). The event provided a platform for insightful discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive breakout sessions, focusing on the deployment of CAD technologies and their alignment with policy objectives. The ALICE Secretary General, Fernando Liesa, actively participated in this dialogue, contributing to discussions that shape the future of mobility.

Fernando Liesa represented ALICE during the breakout session entitled ” Aligning the introduction of CAD with Policy Goals”. In his presentation, focused on the MODI project, Fernando Liesa highlighted the following key points:

Automation in logistics: The distinct challenges and opportunities associated with automating both people and goods mobility were highlighted and the unique requirements of the logistics sector and the potential benefits of implementing automated transport solutions were emphasised.
Accelerating adoption of highly automated freight vehicles. The importance of identifying and overcoming existing barriers to facilitate a smoother rollout of these technologies was underlined.
Demonstrations and new business models: The necessity of large-scale demonstrations to build trust and demonstrate the practical benefits of automated transport were underscored. The development of new business models and partnerships is crucial for the successful application of Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) vehicles in logistics.

Key takeaways from the event:

Enhancing road safety and sustainability: The dialogue underlined the need for CAD developments to contribute to making transport cleaner, safer, and more sustainable. Aligning CAD with policy objectives such as increased safety, improved accessibility, and reduced environmental impact was a key focus.
Infrastructure and technological advances: Discussions also covered the potential infrastructure needs to support AVs and the role of digital infrastructure in creating a safer driving environment. The importance of Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication was highlighted as critical to improving network capacity.
Regulatory framework: The event addressed the challenges that AVs present to conventional regulatory systems and the need for new, multi-dimensional regulatory approaches. Ensuring safety, fostering cooperation among stakeholders, and maintaining technology neutrality were emphasised. One of the main discussion points was on how to achieve harmonised national regulations on permitting the testing, type approval and deployment of automated vehicles in order to create a European single market, where automated vehicles can drive on public roads. Europe aims to have the regulatory framework in place by 2026.

Future pathways and commitments: The dialogue concluded with the endorsement and signing of the “Joint Commitments and Call for Action,” outlining the expected implementation and outcomes by Member States and the European Commission.

The insights shared at this event will inform ongoing and future initiatives to align the introduction of CAD with policy goals, ensuring that advancements in this field contribute to cleaner, safer, and more efficient transport systems across Europe.

Photos copywrite: “Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works”

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