Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — The annual Union work programme for European standardisation for 2020’

(COM(2019) 486 final)

(2020/C 311/05)

Rapporteur: Gerardo LARGHI Co-rapporteur: Elżbieta SZADZIŃSKA

Consultation European Commission, 19.12.2019 Legal basis Article 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Single Market, Production and Consumption Adopted in section 2.3.2020 Adopted at plenary 10/.6.2020 Plenary session No 552 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) 206/0/7

1. Conclusions and recommendations

1.1. The Committee agrees with the Commission that standardisation is crucial to the strategy for the single market and that it should be constantly updated.

1.2. The EESC considers that there is an urgent need to modernise the European standardisation system to meet global challenges with an innovative process of cooperation, with a view to the timely development of standards in a fast-changing technological climate.

1.3. In the EESC’s view, the new modular approach based on cross-cutting demands (such as respect for the environment, the Green Deal or the circular economy) requires a cross-sectoral approach.

1.4. The EESC notes that the annual work programme for 2020 sets out new objectives beyond developing and taking on board previously identified priorities.

1.5. According to the EESC, the standardisation process must begin from the research and development stage, with the support of industry, representatives of SMEs and the social economy, consumers, the social partners, environmentalists and civil society stakeholders.

1.6. For the EESC, it is important to put together a multiannual financial framework in order to implement the planned actions, providing financial and organisational support for the inclusive participation of organisations and representative bodies that are weaker and less well-equipped.

1.7. The Committee agrees on the importance of AI for the single market, and considers that the current rules on safety and security should be updated. More specifically, standardisation in the field of technological safety should incorporate the 2019 Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI in favour of human-centric AI.

1.8. The Committee calls for minimum environmental criteria to be made mandatory in public procurement, and for the use of secondary raw materials to be included among the criteria to be encouraged.

1.9. The EESC welcomes the possibility of a new standardisation request on the internet of things, and rules on cybersecurity, security, privacy and connectivity.

1.10. The Committee hopes that the ‘European Electronic Health Record exchange format’ will ensure the security of the relevant IT systems and networks by developing leading-edge standards.

1.11. The EESC notes that potential vehicle system malfunctions, data security, cyberattacks, communication and ethical issues require specific standards to be drafted.

1.12. The EESC welcomes the Commission’s request to develop or revise harmonised standards in key sectors such as environmental protection, social inclusion and the single market for goods. It supports the proposal to prepare standards for the recycling and reuse of plastic fishing gear, the safety of pyrotechnic articles, the migration limits of restricted chemical substances used in consumer articles, the energy performance of electric motors and domestic appliances, fertilisers and construction. The decision to invest resources in harmonising technologies in the field of steel production is of particular importance.

1.13. The Committee advocates an inclusive approach to standardisation that includes objectives on employability, social rights, and respect for biodiversity and the environment. The EESC believes that this would facilitate the transition from compliance to compatibility and make a positive contribution to the competitiveness of the European system.

1.14. The EESC considers that the old practice of planned product obsolescence should be eliminated by legislation and standardisation.

1.15. The Committee supports the preparation of standards enabling people with disabilities and the digitally illiterate to have better access to products and services in the single market.

1.16. The Committee wishes to voice its support for the political dialogue with the international standardisation bodies and for the bilateral negotiations with non-EU countries.

1.17. The Committee welcomes the measures taken by the Commission to support stakeholder involvement in standardisation work.

1.18. The EESC calls on all of the relevant stakeholders to set up an ad hoc forum on the inclusiveness of the European standardisation system, tasked with holding an annual public hearing to assess progress in this area.

1.19. The Committee agrees with the Commission on devising an action plan for standardisation in the defence and space sectors, and on developing standards in the circular economy and in the social economy sector.

1.20. The EESC calls for European standards to be drawn up in language that is readily understandable by final users, such as SMEs and consumers.

2. European Commission proposals

2.1. In line with Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, the Commission has published a communication setting out the annual European Union work programme for European standardisation for 2020, which outlines the actions that the Commission intends to initiate during 2020 to improve the governance, inclusiveness and international impact of the European standardisation system (ESS).

2.2. Strategic priorities for European standardisation in support of EU legislation and policies: — action in support of recycling and reuse of plastic fishing gear (1); — action in support of eco-design requirements to support the implementing legal acts (2) related to the specific product categories; — action in support of pyrotechnic articles and the latest developments in the sector’s technology (3); — action in support of the design, manufacturing, the installation, use and performance verification of radionuclide calibrators (4); — action in support of equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres in order to reflect the technological updates (5); — action in support of fertilisers (6); — action in support of the development of migration limits of the restricted substances (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in rubber and plastic material used in consumer articles (7); — action in support of the technical language of construction products (8); — action in support of accreditation and conformity assessment (9); — action in support of compliance with the accessibility requirements for products and services (10); — action in support of artificial intelligence (11), internet of things (IoT), and cybersecurity (12); — action in support of the exchange of European electronic health records; — action in support of interoperability of cooperative systems spanning all vehicle classes; — action in support of digitisation, automation and cybersecurity that is crucial for the rail sector (13); — Action in support of the defence industrial development programme (EDIDP) (14).

2.2.1. In addition, the Commission will: — continue to work with international standardisation bodies; — cooperate on standards as a priority in trade agreements (with China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Mercosur etc.) to increase trade and to boost European competitiveness, jobs, and growth; — continue to support the governance process through all relevant means available to it, namely through the Committee on Standards (CoS), the Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) on ICT standardisation and the structural dialogues with the European standardisation organisations; — continue to support the involvement of stakeholders representing SMEs, consumers, environmental interests and trade unions in the standardisation process (referred to as the Annex III (15) organisations (16)); — assess the impact of the ‘Single Market Programme’ (17) through mid-term and final evaluations and through continuous monitoring of a set of high-level key performance indicators; — launch a study in 2019 on the functions and effects of European standards and standardisation in the EU.

3. General comments

3.1. The Committee agrees with the Commission that standardisation is crucial to the strategy for the single market.

3.2. The EESC considers that technical rules on safety and security and the relevant legislation should be constantly updated, in particular in the light of the risks that leading-edge technologies may pose.

3.3. The EESC considers that, together with the compliance request that includes the concept of compliance with standards and performance (efficiency, durability, etc.), the focus should be on a modular approach based on cross-cutting demands (such as respect for the environment, the Green Deal or the circular economy). The Commission has therefore rightly updated its approach, as can be seen in the Green Deal and in its overall work programme for 2020.

3.4. The EESC agrees — once again ( 18 ) — that there is an urgent need to effectively and efficiently modernise the European standardisation system. It considers a new common vision and practical actions, though still on a voluntary basis, as indispensable if we are to meet the global challenges of standardisation with an innovative process of cooperation, based on consensus on the timely development of standards in a fast changing technological climate.

3.5. The EESC notes that the annual work programme for 2020 sets out new objectives beyond developing and taking on board previously identified priorities, the purpose being to bring the European standardisation system into line with a constantly-changing international scene and with the challenges of the global market.

3.6. According to the EESC, the standardisation process must begin from the research and development stage, by means of co-standardisation and pre-standardisation measures and by strengthening the mechanisms for transferring European standards to the international level, but only with the support of industry, representatives of SMEs and the social economy, consumers, the social partners, environmentalists and civil society stakeholders.

3.7. The EESC calls on all of the partners to set about swiftly and effectively coordinating the different European planning, drafting and monitoring systems.

3.8. It is important to put together a suitable multiannual financial framework in order to implement the planned actions ( 19 ) , providing financial and organisational support for the inclusive participation of organisations and representative bodies that are weaker and less equipped through initiatives in the areas of developing technical and regulatory standards, ‘awareness, education and understanding’, ‘European’ inclusiveness and ‘the international dimension’.

3.9. The Committee supports the development of standards in the circular economy, with a view to making a decisive contribution to sustainable production and, consequently, to the conservation of natural resources ( 20 ) and the full preservation of biodiversity.

3.10. The Committee also calls for the development of standards in the social economy sector, with the aim of disseminating best practice and consolidating the social and economic potential of such a significant sector of our economy.

3.11. The Committee calls for minimum environmental criteria to be made mandatory in public procurement, and for the use of secondary raw materials to be included among the criteria to be encouraged.

3.12. The EESC agrees with the importance of AI for the single market and considers that the current rules and legislation on safety and security should be updated in response to the new risks posed by AI, incorporating the 2019 Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI in favour of human-centric AI.

3.13. The EESC welcomes the possibility of a new standardisation request on the internet of things and cybersecurity in order to protect security, privacy and connectivity.

3.14. The Committee hopes that the ‘European Electronic Health Record exchange format’ will ensure the security of the relevant IT systems and networks by developing leading-edge standards.

3.15. Self-driving vehicles also figure among high-risk products and require specific standards to be drawn up.

3.16. The EESC welcomes the Commission’s request, in line with the choice to back a New Green Deal, to develop or revise harmonised standards in key sectors such as the single market, steel production technologies, the defence and space technology sectors, environmental protection and social inclusion. The Committee supports the proposal to prepare standards for the recycling and reuse of plastic fishing gear; the safety of pyrotechnic articles; the migration limits of restricted chemical substances used in consumer articles; the energy performance of electric motors and domestic appliances, fertilisers and construction.

3.17. The EESC points out that planned product obsolescence costs consumers some EUR 100 billion every year; this practice should be prohibited by law and in any case eliminated by standardisation.

3.18. The Committee supports the preparation of standards enabling people with disabilities to have better access to products and services in the single market. The Committee emphasises that specific standardisation for people with disabilities should also extend to standards concerning employment and social inclusion.

3.19. The Committee wishes to voice its support for the political dialogue with the international standardisation bodies and for the bilateral negotiations with non-EU countries.

3.20. The Committee reiterates its call to monitor the efforts of key standardisation players, which are aimed at involving the broadest possible range of stakeholders in the European standardisation system. More specifically, the EESC proposes that all measures to disseminate, coordinate and increase knowledge of the issue of standards be encouraged. This could include setting up an ad hoc forum on the inclusiveness of the European standardisation system, in which progress in this area could be assessed annually.

3.21. The Committee would draw the Commission’s attention to the impacts that choices regarding standardisation may have on social life, on issues such as mobility, as made clear during discussions between the Commission and stakeholders. It therefore calls for dialogue on this sensitive aspect to be maintained, and for joint work with all the European bodies and stakeholders to continue.

3.22. The Committee calls for awareness of the potential impact of the accessibility of standards on segments of the population who are less open to novelties, such as some elderly people and the digitally illiterate, as well as of the economic implications of this state of affairs for SMEs.

4. Specific comments

4.1. With regard to ‘Eco-design’ ( 21 ) , it is important to develop appropriate recommendations rapidly defining technical requirements and providing initial voluntary guidelines on new matters, not yet consolidated by technical standards.

4.3. The Commission has issued a recommendation ( 25 ) laying down guidelines for industry in seeking voluntary agreements as an alternative to or in support of regulation and providing review clauses. In the course of review, it is important to ensure that aspects concerning the circular economy, resource efficiency, repairability, recyclability and durability are included.

4.4. Inclusiveness. The EESC once again stresses the importance of ‘facilitating access to the standardisation process for SMEs and societal stakeholders …’ and ‘close monitoring of the efforts of the key standardisation players, in order to increase the inclusiveness of the ESS’ [European standardisation system] The EESC once again stresses the importance of ‘facilitating access to the standardisation process for SMEs and societal stakeholders …’ and ‘close monitoring of the efforts of the key standardisation players, in order to increase the inclusiveness of the ESS’ [European standardisation system] ( 26 ) . The EESC considers that the event held at the Committee’s premises on 5 November 2019 on the Inclusiveness of the European Standardisation System could be seen as an example of cooperation and constructive dialogue between the European institutions and stakeholders.

4.5. Global support for European standards. Greater impact, representation capacity, competence and coherence are needed, particularly in the ISO/IEC/ITU and especially for small businesses, consumers and the environment, and in multilateral frameworks and free trade agreements.

4.5.1. In keeping with the Committee’s approach to the circular economy, the EESC considers that opting for the harmonisation of mobility policies is a major step towards sustainable mobility for Europe ( 27 )

4.6. The EESC considers that the question of the speed of response to the standardisation needs of the European production system is crucial. It is important in this regard to continue efforts to make up for the structural delay that has built up concerning new working methods.

4.7. The Committee agrees with the strategic areas identified by the Commission: artificial intelligence; the internet of things; blockchains; cybersecurity, particularly for critical infrastructure such as communication and transport networks; accessibility; and helping to build secure digital exchange systems in the health sector at European level (e-Health).

4.8. The EESC emphasises, as it has previously done on several occasions, the urgent need for ongoing negotiations with international competitors. The conclusion of the trade agreement with Japan and the planned continuation of discussions with the USA and China, and the Free Trade Agreements with Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Mercosur countries must be key aspects of the Commission’s work in 2020 and in the coming years.

Brussels, 10 June 2020. The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Luca JAHIER

(1) See actions and measures related to fishing gear in the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy (COM(2018) 28 final) and action 13 in the annex to this Communication.

(2) See details in actions 1 to 3 in the annex to this Communication.

(3) See action 7 in the annex to this Communication.

(4) See action 8 in the annex to this Communication.

(5) See action 6 in the annex to this Communication.

(6) See action 5 in the annex to this Communication.

(7) See action 4 in the annex to this Communication.

(8) See action 9 in the annex to this Communication.

(9) See action 11 in the annex to this Communication.

(10) See action 12 in the annex to this Communication.

(11) COM(2018) 237 final.

(12) COM(2017) 477 final.

(13) See action 10 in the annex to this Communication.

(14) Regulation (EU) 2018/1092.

(15) Annex III of the European Standardisation Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012.

(16) Small Business Standards (SBS), the European consumer voice in standardisation (ANEC), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Environmental Citizens’ Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS).

(17) COM(2018) 441 final.

(18) OJ C 376, 22.12.2011, p. 69.

(19) See Annex 1 to the JIS under the Single Market Strategy, 13.6.2016, Amsterdam, available at https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/3/2016/EN/3-2016-3211-EN-F1-1-ANNEX-1.PDF

(20) OJ C 264, 20.7.2016, p. 98; OJ C 367, 10.10.2018, p. 97; OJ C 283, 10.8.2018, p. 61 and OJ C 62, 15.2.2019, p. 207..

(21) Points 1-3 of the annex to COM(2009) 486 final, as set out in Directive 2005/32/EC.

(22) Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/2013, (EU) 2019/2014, (EU) 2019/2015, (EU) 2019/2016, (EU) 2019/2017, (EU) 2019/2018, (EU) 2019/2019, (EU) 2019/2020, (EU) 2019/2021, (EU) 2019/2022, (EU) 2019/2023 and (EU) 2019/2024 (OJ L 315, 5.12.2019).

(23) COM(2016) 773 final.

(24) In application of Directive 2009/125/EC.

(25) C(2016) 7770.

(26) OJ C 303, 19.8.2016, p. 81.

(27) OJ C 62, 15.2.2019, p. 254.