Key Takeaways from the Kick-off Meeting of the High Level Forum on European Standardisation

The European Commission held the first meeting of the newly launched High-Level Forum on European Standardisation, bringing together a broad range of European stakeholders (companies, industry associations, academia, public authorities and standardisation bodies, among others) to help set priorities, advise on standardisation needs and contribute to the European Union's role as a global standard-setter.

This first meeting highlighted the fundamental role of standards in the European single market, in order to ensure the interoperability of products and services, improve their safety and enhance competition and innovation. Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, in his address to the High-Level Forum, emphasized the crucial role that standards will play in delivering the EU’s green and digital transition, by allowing companies to accelerate the market roll-out of clean and digital technologies and supporting their access to international markets.

CECIMO has always been a very proactive player in the field of standardisation, and we are strongly convinced that for the long-term well-functioning of the High-Level Forum on European Standardisation, the machine tool industry must remain a key stakeholder. Therefore, we believe it is essential for the Forum to work across multiple key areas, and we look forward to a fruitful and constructive collaboration in this Forum to effectively highlight the key specificities, needs and challenges of the European Standardisation System, said Filip Geerts, CECIMO Director General.