Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are largely based on Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). Interoperability is a key requirement to make these systems part of pan-European services; services, to improve safety and other public interest areas but also for the advantage of transport businesses and even the convenience of travellers with entertainment.
A number of standards organizations, fora and consortia are involved in specification work for ITS. The ICT Standards Board (ICTSB) with its working group ITS Steering Group (ITSSG) co-ordinates among these specification activities and aims at a well-structured and consistent set of standards. See the working group Terms of Reference and the list of officials. This activity is also described in the converging technologies page and in the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and telematics page describing telematics in public transport, multi-modal and traffic information, road and traffic data, network and traffic management, fleet management, electronic fee collection, short range communication etc.
Historically, road transport and traffic telematics was the main driver in standardization. Meanwhile, aspects of multi- and inter-modal transport are becoming work items in standardization.
The Mandate
M/270 
from the European Commission and EFTA given to the European
Standards organizations (ESOs) CEN, CENELEC and ETSI requested
work in three phases. Phase 1 provided a report (Part
1, Part
2 )
on current trends and standardization activities. Phase 2 concluded
with a number of recommendations for standardization and related
areas such as public policies to provide an environment for
pan-European ITS services (complete
project team deliverable , final
report ).
Phase 3 has been started with individual work items for ITS.
Concerning the multi- and inter-modal transport, CEN/BT
WG 141 has taken the initiative to investigate and to recommend specific
telematics work.
Standardization is mainly an industry-driven activity which promotes interoperability of equipment and services in a multi-vendor environment. With that, standards increase competition and market-relevance of products.
However, ITS is closely related to public interest policies. This has
been reflected by the political initiative
eEurope 2002 and is now being promoted by the eSafety
initiative 
.
One of the specialities of the ESOs is the support of European regulation with complementing standards. While the New Approach is often used for standards complementing in general terms safety directives, in the field of transport, the directives go beyond the essential requirements and do not necessarily rely on standardization but require specific technical solutions. The examples are in high speed railway interoperability and on road toll.
The main players in ITSSG are the relevant committees which are
concerned ITS with specification work: CEN/TC
278 , ETSI/TC ITS , CEN/CENELEC/ETSI JPC Rail, ISO/TC
204 , ERTICO , EBU .
Beyond these, industry associations, the national administrations
and the European Commission and EFTA are involved.
Inside the European Commission, DG Energy and Transport is responsible
for Intelligent
Transport Systems and Services .