(Brussels – 29 June 2010) A Cooperation Agreement was signed today between EURAMET, the European Association of National Metrology Institutes, and CEN, the European Committee for Standardization and CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. This Cooperation Agreement will increase the opportunities for bridging standardization and European-funded research in the field of metrology.

In this Cooperation Agreement CEN-CENELEC and EURAMET agree to pursue strategic goals and projects of common interest in the fields of metrology and standardization in support of scientific advancement and technological innovation, so that societal challenges which impact on the economy and the quality of lives within Europe can be met.

Innovation is at the heart of standardization activities and of strategic importance to CEN and CENELEC. It is of equal importance to EURAMET, which seeks to accelerate the development of measurement research capabilities in innovative areas such as healthcare, energy, environmental and advanced technology sectors – all of which are areas in which CEN and CENELEC have current relevant standardization activities.

Within the CEN and CENELEC standardization processes, CEN-CENELEC and EURAMET seek co-operation in the field of activities of EURAMET, such as research in metrology, knowledge exchange & infrastructural support in metrology and international recognition of national measurement standards and of Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMC).

EURAMET agrees to promote the importance and benefits of standardization and likewise CEN-CENELEC agrees to promote the importance and benefits of quality-assured measurement in existing standards and in pre-normative research and innovation.

The Cooperation Agreement has been drafted against the background of the Council Conclusions of 25 September 2008 on standardization and innovation and Article 185 (formerly 169) on the EC Treaty, which outlines better coordination of research activities and the convergence of research and innovation policies at national and EU levels.

The Cooperation Agreement was signed by Mrs Elena SANTIAGO (Director General CEN-CENELEC) and Prof. Leslie PENDRILL (Chairperson, EURAMET), in the presence of Mr Edvard KOŢUŠNIK (Member of the European Parliament), Mr Wolfgang WITTKE (Policy Officer, DG Research, European Commission), Prof. Kamal HOSSAIN (Member of the Board of Directors, EURAMET), Mr Bardo SCHETTINI (Director Corporate Policy, CEN-CENELEC) and Mr André PIRLET (Programme Manager, Innovation Department, CEN-CENELEC).

Further information can be found at www.euramet.org

Media Contacts:

CEN and CENELEC Elisabeth Brodthagen Unit Manager - Communication 

Tel.: +32 2 519 68 90 

E-mail: ebrodthagen@cencenelec.eu

EURAMET Prof Kamal Hossain OBE Director, Research and International National Physical Laboratory 

Tel.: +44 20 8943 6024 

E-mail: kamal.hossain@npl.co.uk