Press Release: Commission takes steps to modernise EU’s standardisation policy

Standards are technical specifications defining requirements for products, production processes, services or test-methods. These specifications are voluntary. They are developed by industry and market actors following some basic principles such as consensus, openness, transparency and non-discrimination. Standards ensure interoperability and safety, reduce costs and facilitate companies' integration in the value chain and trade.

European Standards are under the responsibility of the European Standardisation Organisations (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI) and can be used to support EU legislation and policies.The European Commission presented on 1 June 2016 its vision on how European standard setting should evolve in the light of technological developments, political priorities and global trends.

It also announced next steps on the Joint Initiative on Standardisation (JIS), which aimed to reinforce the partnership between the European institutions and the standardisation community.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/1963, 01.06.16: Commission takes steps to modernise EU's standardisation policy http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1963_en.htm

European Commission: DG Internal Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs: Single Market and Standards: European Standards http://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/european-standards/index_en.htm

---