Joint Industry Statement – Feedback on the Standardisation Strategy

CECIMO, alongside 16 other organisations, has co-signed the Joint industry statement – Feedback on the Standardisation Strategy. The signatories, representing a wide range of EU industries, welcome the European Commission’s initiative for a European standardisation strategy that aims to support the digital transformation and the green transition. Therefore, we support the ambition to take a more proactive approach towards strategy setting for standards.

The Joint Statement outlines recommendations that policy-makers should consider when implementing the strategy to ensure the successful market-driven nature of the standardisation processes.

Summary of recommendations

• We acknowledge the European Commission’s interest in good governance principles in standardisation bodies, their consideration of the geopolitics of standards, and the appreciation of the catalyst standards play in our relations with key international partners.
• We underline the necessity to unconditionally maintain standards development processes that are market-driven and inclusive, with stakeholders in the driving seat. The development and harmonisation of standards should not be limited to areas of political priority.
• Building the EU ́s resilience and a model for open strategic autonomy should not mean that the EU resorts to isolationism, instead the EU should further reinforce its ties in standardisation with key trading partners, and should further promote the participation of European stakeholders in international standardisation activities.
• We urge the European Commission to restore the efficient mechanisms for the development, assessment, and timely revision of relevant, state-of the-art harmonised European standards that respond to market needs and support the application of EU law.
• The use of common or technical specifications, as an alternative to harmonised European standards, should only be possible in exceptional cases. Horizontal guidelines should set strict and exceptional conditions, including a proper ex-ante impact assessment and the early involvement, consultation, and direct engagement of the industry.
• The future EU High-Level Forum should be used as a platform to directly involve all stakeholders in standardisation, especially when setting agendas and developing actions.

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