The European Commission today published a standardisation package. In a draft Regulation, it proposes to accelerate, simplify and modernise standardisation necessary to complete the internal market.

The passage to the 'new approach', i.e. the alliance between EU legislation and the harmonisation of technical norms, has been fundamental for the free movement of goods and has helped remove the barriers to free trade within the single European market.

"The present EU legislative standardisation framework seems to be appreciated by those who work with it. However, the current European system of standardisation has to be fine-tuned with the economic and social needs of Europe, whilst promoting innovation, growth and competitiveness", said Lara Comi MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament.

"The proposal for a new Regulation is a good one. Not only SMEs but also European consumers in the Internal Market will benefit from EU-wide standards, as they already do with standard chargers for mobile phones, for example," said Andreas Schwab MEP, EPP Group Coordinator in the IMCO Committee.

For further information
Andreas SCHWAB MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847938
Lara COMI MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847135
Thomas Bickl, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-478-215372

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 265 Members.