WRITTEN QUESTION P-2522/01

by Barbara Weiler (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Technical standards

Under the New Approach, the Commission mandates CEN, Cenelec and ETSI to draw up standards and specifications in connection with EU directives.

How does the Commission ensure that the standardisation process is democratic and transparent?

Does it have any means of monitoring the situation and, if so, what use does it make of them?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2001)

Standardisation can be defined as a voluntary, consensus- based process of setting technical specifications through open and transparent procedures within independent and recognised standard bodies.

In European legislation, standardisation plays an important role in the so- called New Approach legislation which was designed to establish the Internal Market for the free movement of goods within the Community. In these cases, the European legislator, both the Parliament and the Council, has decided to legislate on essential requirements a product must meet. On the basis of the legislation, the technical specification of these requirements is left to the most concerned actors, i.e. European standardisation bodies. The legislative technique of the New Approach is also quoted in the recent Commission White Paper on European Governance(1).

Harmonised standards must, of course, be in conformity with the legal requirements of the different Directives adopted by the Parliament and by the Council.

For standardisation in the framework of the New Approach, Directive 98/34/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on information services recognises three European standards bodies (CEN, Cenelec and ETSI), covering three different areas of industry.

The standardisation system must be truly open and transparent, the standard supported by all major interested parties, and applied in a uniform way throughout the Community. These requirements are referred to as the accountability of European standardisation. Principles of accountability have been laid down in the General Guidelines for Co- operation between CEN, Cenelec and the Commission, adopted in 1984. (CEN and Cenelec are European standards bodies.)These guidelines are currently under revision.

Compliance with the conditions for accountability is linked to the recognition of bodies as European standard bodies under Directive 98/34/EC. Conversely, non- compliance may lead to the withdrawal of recognition. Accordingly, following Articles 2(5) and 6(4a) of Directive 98/34/EC, the Commission is entitled to propose to the Council to deprive a standard body from its status.

Moreover, in order to ensure the broadest possible participation of stakeholders within the standard developing process, the Commission provides financial support to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) representing stakeholders such as consumers and environment to enable them to participate as associate members of the standards bodies in the standard developing process.

Finally, in the framework of the New Approach, the Commission and the European standards bodies have jointly appointed consultants, who assess, within the framework of the internal procedures of the standard bodies, the formal and substantial adequacy of a standard with regard to the legal requirements.

(1) COM(2001) 428 final.