D 2.3 "Proposal on unified pictograms, keywords, bilingual verbal messages and typefaces for VMS in the TERN" is based on a concept, submitted 2003 by the International Institute for Information Design (IIID) to the European Commission in a proposal "SOMS / Substituting/Optimizing (variable) Message Signs for the Trans-European Road Network", before it got merged with "IN-SAFETY / Infrastructure and Safety". At that time the TERN (Trans-European Road Network) covered 15 countries with 11 languages spoken plus 3 additional states which are not EU members. These countries and languages, together with 10 "new member states" with 9 official languages, were considered with the aim to derive at feasible suggestions of the cross-language and language independent display of information on VMS (Variable Message Signs) and static message boards on motorways.