The European Standardization Committees CEN and CENELEC have welcomed the result of today’s vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where a massive majority of Members voted in favour of adopting a new Regulation on European Standardization. Some 95% of MEPs (639 out of 674 taking part in the vote) endorsed the amended legislative text, which was agreed during negotiations between the Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Responding to the outcome of today’s vote, Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC, said: “This result shows that there is a very high level of support among Members of the European Parliament for the European Standardization System and for modernising our system to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.”

“The text adopted by the Parliament recognises the crucial role that is being played by CEN and CENELEC, and the need to ensure that the European Standardization System continues to respect its founding principles, namely: coherence, transparency, openness, consensus, voluntary application, independence and efficiency,” explained Mrs Santiago Cid.

“On behalf of CEN and CENELEC, I would like to congratulate and thank all of the MEPs who contributed to the development of this important legislation, especially the chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, Mr Malcolm Harbour, and also the rapporteur, Ms Lara Comi,” she added.

The new EU Regulation underlines the fact that European standardization “helps to boost the competitiveness of enterprises by facilitating ... the free movement of goods and services, ... technological development and innovation”. It also recognises that “European standardization reinforces the global competitiveness of European industry especially when established in coordination with the international standardization bodies”.

“CEN and CENELEC are already collaborating closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), in the framework of our existing cooperation agreements,” said Mrs Santiago Cid. “We are committed to strengthening the European contribution to standardization at international level, working together with our members in 33 European countries, as well as our affiliates in neighbouring countries and international partners around the world.”

CEN and CENELEC are satisfied to see that the new EU Regulation recognises the role of the national standardization bodies and committees within the European Standardization System. The text also highlights the importance of involving all interested parties in standardization activities, including public authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as organisations representing societal interests and stakeholders such as consumers, employees and environmental organisations.

“In CEN and CENELEC, we are actively working with our members to encourage and facilitate the participation of SMEs and societal stakeholders in standardization activities, at national level and also at European level,” said Mrs Santiago Cid. “We will continue to develop this work in the coming years, in the framework of the new European legislation.”

The Legislative Resolution adopted by the European Parliament is based on the proposal for a Regulation on European Standardization (COM(2011)315) that was published by the European Commission on 1 June 2011. The original text has been amended during negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and now incorporates changes requested by members of the Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), following consultations with stakeholders.

Following adoption by the Parliament, the final text of the new regulation will have to be formally approved (without debate) by Ministers from the 27 EU Member States at the next meeting of the Competitiveness Council, in Luxembourg on 10-11 October. The Regulation on European Standardization will be the first legislation adopted in the framework of the Single Market Act, which was presented by the European Commission in April 2011.

Notes

The European Commission published its Proposal for a Regulation on European Standardisation - COM(2011)315 - on 1 June 2011. The original text of the proposal can be found on the European Commission (Enterprise and Industry) website:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/european-standards/standardisation-policy/index_en.htm

The new Regulation is the first legislation to be adopted in the framework of the Single Market Act that was presented by the European Commission in April 2011.

Legislative Resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 11 September 2012 (see the text of amendment 114 which was adopted by the Parliament):

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0069&language=EN

See also the press release on the European Parliament website - Delivering standards faster to drive growth (11 September 2012) – which includes links to videos and other relevant information on the Parliament website.

About CEN and CENELEC

CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) are officially recognised organisations responsible for developing and defining standards at European level. These standards set out specifications and procedures in relation to a wide range of products and services, thereby facilitating commerce and industry throughout the European Single Market.

The members of CEN and CENELEC are the National Standards Bodies and National Electrotechnical Committees of 33 European countries including all of the EU member states plus three EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) and three EU candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).

European Standards (ENs) are developed through a process of collaboration among experts nominated by business and industry, research institutes, consumer and environmental organisations and other societal stakeholders. These standards are accepted and recognised throughout all of the countries covered by CEN and CENELEC members.

CEN and CENELEC work to promote the international harmonisation of standards in the framework of technical cooperation agreements with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

For more information please see: www.cencenelec.eu

Media contact:

Ben Carlin

Communication Unit

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre

T: +32 2 550 08 32

bcarlin@cencenelec.eu

Web link for the Original Press Release: http://www.cencenelec.eu/News/Press_Releases/Pages/PR-2012-14.aspx