CITA RAG Europe Conference 2026
On 17–18 March 2026, CITA members and invited experts gathered in Brussels for the CITA RAG Europe Conference 2026, a key annual meeting of the European Regional Advisory Group (RAG) of CITA. The conference attracted a very strong participation from across Europe, with the meeting room filled to capacity with representatives from inspection organisations, authorities, technical experts and stakeholders from across the vehicle compliance ecosystem.
The two-day event provided an important forum for expert analysis, exchange of views and strategic discussions on the evolving challenges facing vehicle inspection systems, authorities and operators in Europe.
The conference was opened by CITA President Gerhard Müller, who welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of maintaining a human-centred approach to mobility as technology continues to transform vehicles and transport systems. While automation, electrification, connectivity and artificial intelligence are reshaping the automotive landscape, he stressed that innovation must serve society, ensuring that mobility remains safe, inclusive and environmentally sustainable. He highlighted that the work of vehicle inspection organisations plays a critical role in maintaining public trust in new technologies and ensuring vehicles remain safe and environmentally compliant throughout their lifecycle.
The President also underlined the importance of continuing efforts to improve road safety worldwide, noting that the objectives of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety remain challenging and require stronger commitment from all stakeholders.
Throughout the conference, participants reviewed the latest developments affecting vehicle compliance and roadworthiness systems in Europe. Discussions on the first afternoon focused on strategic and regulatory developments, including:
- The revision of the EU Roadworthiness Package and its implications for vehicle inspections in Europe
- Technical findings on vehicle defects and their impact on road safety
- Updates on vehicle data access, including the revision of Annex X of Regulation (EU) 2018/858, developments regarding the eCall Regulation and the EU Data Act
- New work on software integrity checks throughout the vehicle lifecycle
- Requirements for data access to enable testing of ADAS during periodic technical inspections
Environmental issues were also prominently addressed, with discussions on Euro 7 developments, on-board monitoring, and emerging emission testing approaches, including NOx and remote sensing proposals.
On the evening of 17 March, participants gathered in the centre of Brussels for the official presentation of the CITA Annual Report 2025.
Hosted as an informal networking event, the gathering provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the key achievements and milestones of the past year, while also discussing future priorities for CITA and its members. The convivial setting encouraged exchanges among colleagues from across Europe and strengthened the sense of community within the CITA family.
The second day of the conference was dedicated to technical developments and operational practices in vehicle inspection. Experts presented ongoing work in CITA Topic Areas and Task Forces covering areas such as:
- Suspension testing methods and automatic play detection technologies
- Developments within UNECE working groups on vehicle inspection
- Electromechanical braking systems and parking lock devices
- AI-powered anomaly detection for inspection processes
- Updates on quality management and the evolution of ISO 17020 standards
- Task force updates on ADAS, electric vehicles and type approval developments
These discussions highlighted how digitalisation and new vehicle technologies are reshaping inspection methods, requiring continuous adaptation of testing procedures and regulatory frameworks.
In his closing remarks, CITA President Gerhard Müller highlighted the strong engagement of CITA members working through Topic Areas and Task Forces, whose collaboration is essential to developing effective inspection solutions for increasingly complex vehicles. He reaffirmed CITA’s commitment to modern, meaningful and impartial vehicle inspections worldwide, ensuring that vehicles remain safe and environmentally sound throughout their lifecycle.
The President also emphasised that implementing the revision of the Roadworthiness Package in line with the European Commission’s proposal will be a key step toward adapting inspection systems to the rapid technological evolution of vehicles.
The CITA RAG Europe Conference 2026 once again demonstrated the importance of cooperation among inspection organisations, authorities and technical experts in addressing the challenges of modern mobility. Through open discussions, technical exchanges and networking among members, the conference reinforced CITA’s role as a global platform for advancing safe and clean road transport.
Participants left Brussels with renewed momentum to continue working together to ensure that vehicle inspection systems remain fit for the future of increasingly digital, automated and electrified vehicles.
